Boy, 16, guilty of hammer murder

VICTIM: Viktorija, 14 A BOY of 16 who used horrific levels of violence to kill a schoolgirl and then dumped her body on a park bench has been convicted of rape and murder.

The boy, who cannot be named because of his age, was composed in the dock as he was unanimously declared guilty of killing Viktorija Sokolova by a jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Detectives believe he used a hammer, which has never been found, to launch a “ferocious and sustained” attack on the 14-year-old, who suffered a fractured skull and spine.

A three-week trial was told Lithuanian-born Viktorija was lured to Wolverhampton’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 cover up the offence by hiding clothing, having deleted Facebook messages and hurled his victim’s phone towards a lake.

The boy refused to give evidence, claiming to suffer from learning difficulties, and faces automatic life when he is sentenced on February 22.

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