Boy, 16, faces life for hammer horror sex murder of girl, 14
A YOUTH who used horrific levels of violence to kill a schoolgirl has been convicted of rape and murder.
The 16-year-old, who cannot be named, remained composed in the dock as he heard the jury’s unanimous guilty verdict for the murder of Viktorija Sokolova, 14.
He faces an automatic life sentence when he is sentenced on February 22.
Detectives believe the boy used a hammer, which has never been found, to launch a “ferocious and sustained” attack on Viktorija, who suffered a fractured skull and spine.
The three-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court was told Lithuanian Viktorija was lured to the city’s West Park late on April 11 after being contacted by her killer on Facebook Messenger.
The youth was caught on CCTV as he attempted to hide clothing, after he deleted the Facebook messages and threw his victim’s phone away.
He refused to give evidence, claiming to be suffering from learning difficulties, and initially denied even meeting Viktorija.
He told police his Facebook account Murdered schoolgirl Viktorija Sokolova, pictured right on a visit to London. Left, her mother Karolina Valantiniene arriving at court to see the killer, aged 16, being convicted
was hacked, before changing his story and saying the two had consensual sex at the park and he had left Viktorija unharmed.
Jonathan Rees QC, prosecuting, said Viktorija’s partially-clothed body was found by a dog walker at about 7am on April 12.
He said: “She had been subjected to a sustained and ferocious attack to the head, which involved a minimum of 21 blows. The force of the attack
was such that it caused multiple fractures of the underlying skullcap and her facial skeleton.
“To put it into layperson’s terms, her head had been smashed in.”
The court heard Viktorija had a turbulent relationship with her parents, who struggled to control her.
They were called to give evidence at the trial after jurors heard microscopic traces of semen belonging to her stepfather, Saidas Valantinas, were found on Viktorija’s underwear, believed to be from innocent clothingto-clothing transfer.
Mr Valantinas and Viktorija’s mother, Karolina Valantiniene, were eliminated from the inquiry at an early stage.
CCTV evidence showed the boy was carrying a backpack and had changed his trousers while in the park.
After the case, Detective Inspector Caroline Corfield of West Midlands Police said: “It’s impossible to imagine what it is like to learn of the murder of your child, then to hear the horrific details of that murder – which are inescapable because they have to be presented in court.
“But in this particular case the defence pointed the finger of blame very specifically at Viktorija’s parents – they were asked in court whether they had murdered Viktorija.”
Adjourning the case for psychiatric reports, High Court judge Mr Justice Jeremy Baker told him: “There is only one sentence which can be imposed upon you.
“However, I do have to consider the appropriate minimum term that you will have to serve, and for that purpose I am going to ask for various pieces of information about you.”