A woman who admitted killing seven-year-old Emily Jones will no longer be tried for murder after prosecution solicitors announced they will drop the charge offering no further evidence.
Eltiona Skana, age 30, had admitted the manslaughter of Emily Jones on the grounds of diminished responsibility but was on trial after pleading not guilty to murder.
Emily had been taken to Queen’s Park in Bolton by her father, Mark Jones, on the afternoon of Mother’s Day, Sunday March 22, and was riding her scooter when she spotted her mother, Sarah Barnes, who was jogging.
The youngster was calling out to her mother as she scooted past a park bench where Skana was sitting, alone and armed with a craft knife.
With no warning, Skana got up, grabbed Emily and slit her throat before running off.
The defendant, originally from Albania, was later detained under the Mental Health Act.
After hearing evidence on Thursday from a consultant forensic psychiatrist treating Skana at high-security Rampton Hospital, the murder charge was withdrawn on Friday and the jury directed to formally return a not guilty verdict.
Michael Brady QC, prosecuting, told Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester there was no realistic prospect of a conviction on the murder charge.
Judge Mr Justice Wall will sentence Skana for manslaughter on Tuesday.
The prosecution alleged that, although it was accepted the defendant does have, and has had, mental health difficulties for a number of years, it was for the jury to decide whether this was a case of murder rather than manslaughter and questioned whether Skana’s poor mental health was a “convenient excuse” for her actions.
The jury then found Skana not guilty of murder.
The sentencing for manslaughter is expected to take place next week.
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Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
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