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West Park murder trial jury retire to consider verdict

The jury in the case of the 16-year-old youth accused of murdering and raping Viktorija Sokolova have retired to consider their verdict.

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Viktorija Sokolova, inset, was found dead in Wolverhampton's West Park

The 14-year-old schoolgirl was struck more than 20 times while being bludgeoned to death in the wooden pavilion known as the 'black house' in Wolverhampton's West Park after going to a late night rendezvous with a Facebook friend on April 11.

Her semi naked body was found draped over a bench 150 metres away in the park by a dog walker shortly before 7am the following morning.

The jury retired after trial judge Mr Justice Jeremy Baker completed his summing up on the case at Wolverhampton Crown Court after lunch yesterday.

The accused, who cannot be identified because of this age, denies murder and rape.

The prosecution are no longer proceeding with a third allegation - also denied - that he had sex with a dead body.

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