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Viktorija Sokolova's friend warned of danger before fatal West Park attack

Viktorija Sokolova was bludgeoned to death with a hammer-like weapon, the court heard.

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Viktorija Sokolova

A teenage murder victim was warned by a friend not to keep a midnight rendezvous in West Park for a date that was to cost her her life, a court heard.

The 13-year-old pleaded with Viktorija Sokolova to go directly home because a meet-up at that time was 'too dangerous', she told police.

She also spoke of seeing her friend 'beaten up' in public by her mother days earlier after Viktorija had allegedly stolen her stepfather's bank card which was used to withdraw £250, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

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The young witness was interviewed by detectives the day after Viktorija's semi-naked body was found slumped over a park bench in April.

She had been raped and bludgeoned to death with a hammer-like weapon more than 20 times, leaving her head 'smashed in', it was said.

The pair and another friend had spent the previous day together out and about in Wolverhampton, talking with pals and dancing to music on Viktorija's speaker.

Forensic officers search West Park

But by 10pm, one had been picked up by her father while the 13-year-old was tired and wanted to go to bed.

Viktorija, 14, asked if she could stay at her friend's home for longer, until it was time for her to leave for West Park.

"I said 'Okay but you need to go home.' I didn't want anything to happen."

Her friend was so concerned that she told her aunt of Viktorija's intentions and between them they urged her not to go, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

Viktorija got ready to leave and her friend then heard her in the next room 'phoning that guy she was going to meet'.

Police tape around the 'black house' which was a well-known hang out in West Park

They had planned to rendezvous at a building in West Park known as the black house, which the witness described as where 'bad boys and gangsters' hung out.

The 13-year-old said in the video played to the jury: "I said it was a bad idea. I didn't think she should do it. She said 'He's only my mate'. I gave her a hug and that's the last time I saw her."

Earlier that day Viktorija had been messaging someone about running away to London but would not say who it was. The Lithuanian teen lived with her mother and stepfather in Mostyn Street, Wolverhampton, but had a 'turbulent' relationship with them.

Forensic teams search around the black-coloured wooden pavilion in West Park

Her friend had told of seeing Viktorija's mother attack her daughter in West Park three days before her death after she had stolen her stepfather's bank card and drawn money on it.

She later said it had been to replace clothes her parents had burned.

Her friend told police that Viktorija's mother had 'boxed' her daughter 'like a boys' fight', even 'punching and choking' her on the ground.

She said: "I thought Viktorija was going to be gone. It was really bad, I didn't know what to do. I was shaking because Viktorija was being beaten up by her mom."

A 16-year-old youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies murder, rape and having sex with her dead body.

The trial continues.

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