Police are asking for help to identify a man they want to speak to in relation to a nine-year-old girl who was stabbed in Boston, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire Police have released a CCTV image of a man they want to track down and speak to in relation to the stabbing of a nine-year-old girl Lilia Valutyte who was ‘was stabbed to death while playing in broad daylight’ on Thursday evening.
Police are asking for help to identify the bearded man who was wearing a blue T shirt and black trousers. He was captured on CCTV at around the same time the young girl was stabbed to death in Boston.
The man could still be in Boston or could be in other areas of Greater Lincolnshire which Skegness, Lincoln, Grimsby, Scunthorpe. Or he could be furtherafield around the UK.
A spokesman for Lincolnshire Police has said they have launched a man hunt this morning to find the man after two people who were previously arrested have been released without charge and will face no further action.
Lilia who was just nine years old and having fun playing outside was knifed at around 6.20pm on 28 July.
A Lincolnshire Police statement said: ‘We are urgently appealing for the public’s help to identify the man in these photographs, who we want to speak to following the death of nine-year-old Lilia Valutyte.
‘As part of our fast-moving murder investigation, we now have CCTV images of a man who we need to locate.
‘Any information, however small, may prove critical to our enquiries. Two people who were arrested earlier this week have now been released with no further action.’
Chief Superintendent Martyn Parker of Lincolnshire Police said: ‘Our officers have been working round the clock on this investigation, and the public’s help may prove crucial.
‘These are very clear images of a man we want to speak to, so I’d urge anyone with information to get in touch with us. If you see him, do not approach him but immediately call 999.
‘This is a particularly tragic case and I’d like to reassure the public that we have a huge amount of resources dedicated to the investigation.
‘We continue to provide support to the family of Lilia, as they grieve following this unimaginable loss.’
Anyone who sees the man or recognises him should call 999 quoting Incident 419 of 28 July.