Murder of a schoolgirl couldn't have been 'predicted or prevented'
The murder of a schoolgirl by another teenager in a park could not have been "predicted or prevented", a Serious Case Review has found.
Viktorija Sokolova, aged 14, was raped and murdered by Ayman Aziz in West Park, Wolverhampton, on April 11 last year.
Aziz, who was 16 at the time, was sentenced to life imprisonment at Wolverhampton Crown Court in February.
He had launched his attack on teenager in a pavilion after arranging to meet her via Facebook Messenger, eventually leaving her body on a bench.
An independent review published by Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Board today (October 4), referred to Viktorija as Child N, described her killing as a "tragic loss of a young, vibrant life."
The Serious Case Review was commissioned to see what, if anything, agencies involved could have done differently which could have led to a different outcome.
The review has made eight recommendations to improve practices by agencies which had contact with her and these either have been or are being implemented by the Board and the agencies themselves.
Viktorija, originally from Lithuania, had lived with her mother and stepfather in the UK for seven years.
The review had considered the 12 months leading up to Viktoija's death, covering the time at which agencies became involved.
The Independent Chair of Wolverhampton Safeguarding Board, Linda Sanders said it was a very "complex" case and the review found a "number of areas of good practice by professionals."
She specified the good work of her schools in reporting and following up episodes in which Viktorija had gone missing.
The Board has held an internal learning review process in relation to the perpetrator.
It had been recently concluded and identified a number of actions which are being implemented.
Read more: