Lilia Valutyte: Court hears Deividas Skebas murdered nine-year-old as she played in Boston

Lilia Valutyte was playing in the street when she was attacked, a court was told.

A nine-year-old girl was stabbed to death while playing in the street, a court has heard.

Lilia Valutyte was outside a shop where her mother was working when she was attacked by Deividas Skebas on a street in Boston, Lincolnshire, on 29 July last year, a jury at Lincoln Crown Court was told.

Lithuanian national Skebas, 23, is charged with murder but has already been deemed mentally unfit to stand trial.

Instead a trial of the facts is taking place. The jury will be asked to determine whether Skebas carried out the killing, but not whether he is criminally guilty.

The case is expected to last two days.

Deividas Skebas at a previous court hearing. Credit: PA

Opening the case, prosecutor Christopher Donnellan KC said Lilia was playing outside on Fountain Lane at around 6.15pm.

He said: "As Lilia played with her hula hoop, the defendant Deividas Skebas approached, quickening his pace as he moved towards her."

Mr Donnellan said Skebas pulled a knife from the waist of his trousers.

He added: "Lilia stepped slightly off the road onto the pavement to move out of his way... he thrust the knife into her chest and through into her heart."

Despite the efforts of an off-duty police officer as well as doctors and paramedics, Lilia died within an hour, the court heard.

Skebas is not present for the proceedings.

Jurors were told they were not being asked to decide his intention, or his mental fitness, only whether he carried out the killing.

What is a trial of facts?

Under the law in England and Wales, once a court has determined that a defendant is subject to a disability that prevents them from facing a criminal trial, there may be a trial of the facts.

The object of the trial is to determine the truth of the allegations against the defendant, as opposed to their guilt or innocence in relation to the alleged crime.

The trial takes place to ensure that there is a legal justification for restricting the liberty of the defendant if the jury finds the case proven.

The prosecution puts its evidence before a judge and jury, in a courtroom, in a similar way to a normal criminal trial.

However, the accused does not play a part in proceedings and does not even need to be in court.

Their legal team can question witnesses, challenge the evidence and make legal submissions on their behalf.

Just like in a normal criminal trial a jury must be sure beyond all reasonable doubt that the accused committed the acts alleged.

Jurors are not asked to consider motive.

The defendant can't be convicted but can be acquitted.

If the case against the defendant is proven, the court can take the following courses of action: order an absolute discharge; a supervision order; or a hospital order.