Viktorija Sokolova: Day one of West Park murder trial told of schoolgirl's brutal killing
Follow the latest from Wolverhampton Crown Court, where a 16-year-old boy is on trial for the rape and murder of Viktorija Sokolova.
The trial of a teenager accused of raping and murdering a schoolgirl in Wolverhampton started today.
We've brought you updates from Wolverhampton Crown Court, where a 16-year-old boy is charged with raping and killing Viktorija Sokolova and then having sex with her dead body.
The court has been told:
Viktorija Sokolova died after being hit at least 21 times with a hammer-like weapon.
The schoolgirl had arranged to meet her alleged killer on Facebook Messenger. He cannot be named for legal reasons.
The defendant claims Viktorija was alive and well when he left her in West Park.
Viktorija's semi-naked body was found by a dog walker the following morning.
The alleged murderer cannot be named for legal reasons because of his age.
Viktorija, who was born in Lithuania and known as Tori, was aged 14 when she died.
Her body was found on April 12 this year near the lake in West Park, which was closed for a week as forensic officers scoured the area.
A post mortem examination revealed she had died from blunt force trauma to the head.
Today is the first day of the trial, which is expected to last for around three weeks.
