This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-46523916
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Teen guilty of murdering Viktorija Sokolova in park | Teen guilty of murdering Viktorija Sokolova in park |
(35 minutes later) | |
A boy who launched a "ferocious" fatal attack on a 14-year-old girl before dumping her body on a park bench has been found guilty of murder and rape. | |
Viktorija Sokolova had her head "smashed in" and her lifeless body was found partially clothed 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 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named, had denied murder. | |
He admitted he met and had sex with Viktorija in the park on the night of 11 April, 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. | 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 | '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' | '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 left her draped over a bench. | 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 left her draped over a bench. |
Prosecutor Jonathan Rees QC said her head had been "smashed in". | Prosecutor Jonathan Rees QC said her head had been "smashed in". |
Det Insp Corfield said the attack was "so violent we found three of her teeth in the pavilion" which was "heavily bloodstained". | Det Insp Corfield said the attack was "so violent we found three of her teeth in the pavilion" which was "heavily bloodstained". |
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," she 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," she said. |
The pair had been friends, she said, emphasising her killer was not a "faceless person" she met online. | 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. | "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 could impose. | 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 could 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. | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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' | 'Go through life together' |
Her mother said during the trial, the offender never looked at her, "maybe because of him feeling ashamed". | 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." | "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." | 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. | "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" and has ordered a pre-sentence psychiatric report for February. | Judge Jeremy Baker said he was "obviously concerned as to the extreme nature of the offences in this case" and has ordered a pre-sentence psychiatric report for February. |
Wolverhampton Safeguarding Board has said it would publish a serious case review next year looking at Viktorija's contact with the authorities "to establish whether any lessons can be learned". | Wolverhampton Safeguarding Board has said it would publish a serious case review next year looking at Viktorija's contact with the authorities "to establish whether any lessons can be learned". |