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Viktorija Sokolova murder jury hears closing speeches

The jury has been urged to distinguish ‘hard evidence from theory’ before deciding if the 16-year-old defendant murdered Viktorija Sokolova.

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Viktorija Sokolova

Mr Adam Kane QC, defending, told Wolverhampton Crown Court in his closing speech: “This is a case of ‘I did not kill her and I don’t know who did’.

“He is not here to prove who did kill her. It is the professed theory of the prosecution that it is this boy, with no previous convictions, who murdered her.

"The prosecution has to prove its case.

"Dispassionate scrutiny of the evidence shows they have fallen substantially short.”

He argued the prosecution had tried to identify two CCTV images as the defendant arriving and leaving West Park on the night of the murder.

One is wearing different trousers than the other.

Mr Kane said: “The explanation offered for this is he could have changed his trousers.

"I suppose that could be possible but they may be different people.

"It was the only way to get round an uncomfortable fact.”

Viktorija was brutally battered to death in an attack that left the wooden pavilion at the park blood spattered.

A forensic scientist told the court the attacker would probably have been blood stained.

Mr Kane said the jacket worn by the defendant had no blood on it and no sign of the victim’s blood was found during a forensic search of the defendant’s home.

The prosecution maintain the accused disposed of a bag that could have contained clothing worn during the attack after he left the park.

It is admitted the 16-year-old had sex with Viktorija after the pair arranged a late night meeting in the pavilion on April 11.

He alleges they had consensual sex and she was uninjured when he left the park.

Shortly after getting home he deleted incriminating material from his iPhone, the jury was told.

Mr Jonathan Rees QC, prosecuting, insisted in his closing speech evidence ‘clearly and unswervingly’ pointed to the 16-year-old being responsible for murder.

The defendant, who cannot be named, denies murder and rape.

The case continue.

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