Teenage boy ‘raped and murdered 14-year-old girl in park before having sex with her dead body’, court hears

Teenager’s body ‘found by a passer-by’

A teenage boy raped and murdered a 14-year-old schoolgirl before having sex with her dead body, a court has heard.

The 16-year-old youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is accused of killing Viktorija Sokolova in April this year.

A court heard the teenager’s body was found by a passer-by after she was attacked in West Park, Wolverhampton.

Viktorija was previously described by her family as “a little angel” who made lives “colourful and full of meaning”.

A post-mortem examination concluded Viktorija, who was originally from Lithuania and was living in Wolverhampton, died from a blunt force trauma to the head.

The teenager went on trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court, where he denies the charges.

A jury of four men and eight woman were sworn in and prosecutor Jonathan Rees QC will open the case against the youth on Wednesday.

He said: “There will be DNA evidence in the case, there will also be statements from the victim’s mother and stepfather.”

Adam Cane QC, defending, told the jury: “Viktorija Sokolova was originally from Lithuania was attacked in West Park on April 11 and 12 this year.

“The young man in question is 16-years-old. You will hear evidence from a number of people including her step father and biological mother and her friends.”

Dressed in a blue t-shirt and jeans, the defendant spoke only to enter three not guilty pleas before being remanded into youth custody as the case was adjourned.

The case is expected to last for at least two weeks.

SWNS