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Teen guilty of murdering Viktorija Sokolova in park Teen guilty of murdering Viktorija Sokolova in park
(35 minutes later)
A 16-year-old boy murdered and raped a schoolgirl in a park before dumping her body on a bench.A 16-year-old boy murdered and raped a schoolgirl in a park before dumping her body on a bench.
Viktorija Sokolova was 14 when her head was "smashed in" in Wolverhampton's West Park on 12 April.Viktorija Sokolova was 14 when her head was "smashed in" in Wolverhampton's West Park on 12 April.
Her mother, who had to deny a hand in the murder, reported Viktorija missing the day before her body was found.Her mother, who had to deny a hand in the murder, reported Viktorija missing the day before her body was found.
The teenager, who cannot be named, denied murder. He admitted he met and had sex with Viktorija in the park that night, claiming it was "consensual".The teenager, who cannot be named, denied murder. He admitted he met and had sex with Viktorija in the park that night, claiming it was "consensual".
Jurors at Wolverhampton Crown Court found him guilty of her rape and murder but not guilty of a further charge of sexual penetration of her corpse.
'Black house' rendezvous
Viktorija had been "subjected to a brutal and sustained attack and then dragged dead or dying to the park bench," where she was "left in a very undignified position, half-naked", Det Insp Caroline Corfield, from West Midlands Police, said.Viktorija had been "subjected to a brutal and sustained attack and then dragged dead or dying to the park bench," where she was "left in a very undignified position, half-naked", Det Insp Caroline Corfield, from West Midlands Police, said.
Her body was discovered by a dog walker at about 07:00 BST. The man said he initially believed he had stumbled across a "prank" blow-up doll.Her body was discovered by a dog walker at about 07:00 BST. The man said he initially believed he had stumbled across a "prank" blow-up doll.
The teenage killer used Facebook messenger to arrange to meet her the night of her death at a pavilion in the park referred to as the "black house".The teenage killer used Facebook messenger to arrange to meet her the night of her death at a pavilion in the park referred to as the "black house".
After denying he had seen Viktorija for months, he eventually admitted having sex with her that night, but said she was "alive and well" when he left to go home.After denying he had seen Viktorija for months, he eventually admitted having sex with her that night, but said she was "alive and well" when he left to go home.
'Betray her trust'
In reality, he used "horrific" violence with a hammer-like weapon to deliver at least 21 blows to her head in a "sustained and ferocious attack", raped her and dragged her 150m across the park where he "draped" her partially clothed body and left her.
Prosecutor Jonathan Rees QC said her head had been "smashed in".
Det Insp Corfield said there was "nothing" in the defendant's background to suggest he would "commit a seriously violent act, let alone the inexplicable levels of violence involved in Viktorija's murder".
The pair had been friends, she said, emphasising her killer was not a "faceless person" she met online.
"Viktorija could never have imagined someone she knew and trusted would betray her trust in the way he did," she said.
The teenager has been remanded in custody until 22 February for a pre-sentence report although Justice Jeremy Baker said there was "only one sentence" he can impose.
During his defence the boy declined to take the witness stand - claiming to be suffering from learning difficulties - but Viktorija's mother, Karolina Valantiniene, and stepfather, Saidas Valantinas, had to deny they had murdered the teenager.
Traces of Mr Valantinas' semen were found in the knickers Viktorija was wearing at the time of her death, alongside the semen of the offender and traces from a third, unidentified, man.
Mr Valantinas said he had no idea why his DNA was on her clothing and said the defence's argument was "unreasonable", "unsubstantiated", and "rude".
The court also heard about his "turbulent" relationship with Viktorija, who was sent to live with her father in Northern Ireland for a couple of months because she repeatedly ran away.
Jurors were told there was also a physical altercation between Viktorija and her mother the Sunday before her murder.
However, evidence pointing to the teenager, including CCTV footage of him entering and leaving the park, footprints in Viktorija's blood matching his shoes, and his attempts to conceal evidence - particularly messages he sent to her - was enough to convince the jury.
'Go through life together'
Her mother said during the trial, the offender never looked at her, "maybe because of him feeling ashamed".
"This is beyond comprehension that something like that has happened to us," she said. "I keep asking God why and for what this happened to us."
She remembered her daughter as "brave", and added: "We as parents should go through life together with them."
"Waiting for them to grow up and then for us to grow old," Mrs Valantiniene said.
Judge Jeremy Baker said he was "obviously concerned as to the extreme nature of the offences in this case" when he ordered a pre-sentence psychiatric report for February.
"Therefore it seems to me that the court ought to be properly informed about all of the background."