Deividas Skebas, 26, stabbed Lilia Valutyte in the heart as she played with a hula hoop in Boston, Lincolnshire, on 28 July 2022. Skebas, a Lithuanian who has schizophrenia and told police he was being controlled by a chip implanted in his brain by the US space agency NASA, denied murder but admitted manslaughter by diminished responsibility. He was convicted of murder by a jury at Lincoln Crown Court on 5 February. Lilia's mother, Lina Savickiene, said she found her daughter "covered in blood and with the hoop around her". She initially thought "something might have happened" with the hula hoop and described shouting for help while attempting to cover her daughter's wounds as she became pale. An off-duty police officer tried to help save Lilia, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Skebas was judged mentally unfit to stand trial in 2023, but that assessment changed in spring 2025 and a criminal trial began at Lincoln Crown Court in January this year. Jurors were told there was no dispute he had killed Lilia but they had to decide what his state of mind was at the time of the attack. Prosecutors said he had known what he was doing in stabbing Lilia - who would have turned 13 this year - and tried to avoid being caught. Skebas appeared by video-link from high-security facility Rampton Hospital in Nottinghamshire wearing a navy blue zip-up jumper and stared ahead without reacting as his sentence was read out by Mr Justice Choudhury on Wednesday. In his sentencing remarks, the judge said Lilia was a "happy, lively girl as carefree as any nine-year-old should be", adding that Skebas committed a "shocking and horrific act of violence" on her. He added: "She should have been safe. She was playing in a pedestrianised area and just yards away from her mum." Mr Justice Choudhury said Skebas had been a user of drugs including cannabis and amphetamines, which would "likely worsen" his schizophrenia. Opening the Crown's case against Skebas last month, Christopher Donnellan KC told jurors: "This deliberate murder was clearly a wicked act. He knew his conduct was wrong. He knew he was killing a child." Mr Donnellan told the court on Wednesday: "This was a particularly vulnerable victim, a young girl aged nine. The offence took place with a degree of planning or premeditation." Jurors heard Skebas loitered around the area until it was quiet before he stabbed the girl with a Sabatier paring knife he bought from a Wilko shop two days earlier. In the days after the attack, Skebas shaved his beard, tucked the knife behind a radiator and tried to leave the UK for Lithuania on a bus. Lilia's mother said in an impact statement read by her husband, Aurelijus Savickas, on the day Skebas was convicted: "This is not something you recover from. "Sometimes terrifying thoughts overwhelm the mind and during this trial there have been many, many more. "Why her? Why us? The questions remain unanswered." Read more from Sky News:Energy price cap to fall but threat of war hangs over outlookStarmer 'concerned' after man with axe arrested at mosque The court heard Skebas was arrested two days after the attack, but his mental health was "declining" so he was taken to hospital. He told detectives he had eaten a piece of rice which he believed was a microchip, and that he had "the power to resurrect" Lilia if the police contacted "his controller in NASA". In CCTV footage shown to jurors, Lilia could be seen playing with a hula hoop while Skebas watched her from the end of the road, occasionally touching his back pocket, where Mr Donnellan said the knife was hidden. The force of the attack caused Lilia to fall backwards onto the shutters of the shop next to her mother's store. An off-duty police officer, Detective Constable Andrew Pearson, who was nearby at the time started running after the defendant, but after hearing "noises of distress" he tried to save Lilia's life. The girl was pronounced dead at just after 7pm, within an hour of the attack. In mitigation, defence barrister Andrew Campbell-Tiech KC said Skebas remains dangerous "not merely to himself but in the absence of medication... a danger to others". He added: "This young man has been subject to a serious and dangerous condition for many, many years." The judge told Skebas that although he has been sentenced to life imprisonment, "alternative arrangements may have to be made" because of his current mental state.

John Davidson, who suffers from the neurological condition, yelled out as the first award of the night was presented at London's Royal Festival Hall by Sinners stars Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo. The BAFTAs programme was edited down from the three-hour live show filmed two hours earlier that evening, and went out on BBC1 at 7pm. Viewers were able to see the offending moment on BBC iPlayer for more than 12 hours before the programme was pulled to be edited. After this, they saw the message: "This episode will be available soon." A BBC spokesperson said: "The BBC has been reviewing what happened at BAFTA on Sunday evening. "This was a serious mistake and the director-general has instructed the Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) to complete a fast-tracked investigation and provide a full response to complainants." The BBC apologised earlier this week and said the slur had been missed and "aired in error". During the broadcast, the ceremony's presenter Alan Cumming apologised for the language viewers may have heard. Both Lindo and Jordan appeared to pause after the insult was heard, then continued their presentation. Davidson, who was attending the ceremony as the inspiration behind the film I Swear, which dramatises his life, said he is "deeply mortified" his involuntary tics caused him to blurt out the offensive language. The backlash to the incident overshadowed the film's success at the ceremony, with relative newcomer Robert Aramayo, who plays Davidson, taking home the best actor award over the likes of Oscar favourite Timothee Chalamet and Hollywood royalty Leonardo DiCaprio. Have lessons been learned? The BBC's investigation announcement on Wednesday came as the Culture, Media and Sport Committee (CMS) wrote to outgoing director-general Tim Davie "seeking an explanation" for how the racial slur ended up in the broadcast "in spite of a two-hour time delay". Chairwoman Dame Caroline Dinenage referenced the broadcaster's coverage of last year's Glastonbury festival, when punk-rap duo Bob Vylan's set went out on live stream. "This latest incident raises questions about the extent to which lessons have been learned and about the controls and systems you have in place to prevent such incidents," Dame Caroline said. She asked the BBC what "specific systems" it had in place to prevent broadcasting of offensive language, and why they "failed" this time. BAFTA's apology BAFTA apologised "unreservedly" to Jordan and Lindo, as well as "all those impacted". "During the ceremony, John chose to leave the auditorium and watch the rest of the ceremony from a screen, and we would like to thank him for his dignity and consideration of others on what should have been a night of celebration for him," the organisation said in a statement. "We take full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation and we apologise to all. We will learn from this and keep inclusion at the core of all we do, maintaining our belief in film and storytelling as a critical conduit for compassion and empathy." Read more:On the trail of Putin's 'shadow fleet'The Mexican villa where drug lord spent final hours In an interview with US entertainment outlet Variety, Davidson said the BBC should have "worked harder" to ensure his slur was not broadcast. "BAFTA had made us all aware that any swearing would be edited out of the broadcast," he said. "I have made four documentaries with the BBC in the past and feel that they should have been aware of what to expect from Tourette's, and worked harder to prevent anything that I said - which, after all, was some 40 rows back from the stage - from being included in the broadcast." On Tuesday, Labour MP Dawn Butler wrote to the BBC and said the broadcast was "painful and unforgivable". Meanwhile, filmmaker Jonte Richardson said he was stepping down as a BAFTA emerging talent judge over the organisation's handling of the incident.

Police said the suspect, a white man in his 40s, was with another man, a black male, when they entered the property during Ramadan prayers. It happened at the Manchester Central Mosque, in the Victoria Park area of south Manchester, at around 8.40pm on Tuesday. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said no one was injured and no threats were made, and the incident was not being treated as terror-related. But the mosque described it as a "serious security incident" and said security staff had acted quickly in raising the alarm. 'Worrying for Muslim communities' In a post on X, the prime minister said: "I am concerned to hear of the incident at Manchester Central Mosque last night. I know this will be worrying for Muslim communities, especially during Ramadan, a time of peace and reflection. "My thanks go to the volunteers and emergency services for their quick response. "We have provided up to £40m funding for additional security at mosques, Muslim schools and community centres, and will continue to act to ensure communities are able to live without fear." Police confirmed the suspect was arrested by police on suspicion of carrying an offensive weapon and possession of class B drugs. He remains in custody for questioning. Circumstances of incident 'unclear' GMP's Assistant Chief Constable John Webster said: "We were called at around 8.40pm to concern from security staff at the mosque about a white man in a high-viz jacket carrying a bag with an axe inside. "The man had reportedly claimed to be in the mosque to do work on the building, but staff had no knowledge of this. "They rightly acted on their suspicions and called police. There was no suggestion that he made any threats or confronted members of the congregation. "However, we understand the concern that this suspicious and concerning behaviour caused." Mr Webster added: "We quickly responded to the scene where we searched the suspect, arrested him and seized weapons, including an axe, a knife and class B drugs. "The suspect, a white man in his 50s, is under arrest on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and class B drugs. "At this time, it is not clear what the circumstances or intent, if any, was around this incident." 'We are taking this very seriously' Mr Webster continued: "I know this uncertainty can cause concern, but it is key that we have the time to question the suspect and speak to as many witnesses as possible to understand the nature of this incident. "To ensure we are appropriately exploring every line of enquiry, we are working with detectives from Counter Terrorism Policing North West, but it has not been declared a terrorist incident." Read more from Sky News:Ex-DJ sold fake plane parts to airlinesUK to be warmer than Malta and BarcelonaHow UK's travel system is changing today The Assistant Chief Constable added: "We are taking this very seriously and have increased patrols around mosques at what we know is a really important time for Muslim communities as they come together during Ramadan. "We're reviewing all available CCTV and body-worn video to identify a second man, a black man, who was reported as acting suspiciously in the mosque at the same time as the suspect." Volunteers 'played crucial role in containing situation' In a statement, the mosque said the UK's Muslim community had "experienced a notable rise in threats and hostility over recent years". It added: "The increase in Islamophobic incidents is a serious concern, and greater resources are urgently needed to address this growing and real risk. "Congregants are advised to travel in groups where possible and to ensure that children are not left unattended. "The swift and responsible actions of our volunteers played a crucial role in containing the situation. Without their intervention, the consequences could have been far more serious." Afzal Khan, the local MP for Rusholme, also said he was "deeply concerned" about the incident. He said: "Just this week, the chancellor and home secretary announced more funding for protecting mosques, and this incident demonstrates once again why this funding is so vital." Police are appealing for witnesses to help with their enquiries.

In the last two weeks in the Premier League, only four out of 21 games have been won by the home side, a proportion of just 19 per cent. Manchester City, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa are the only teams to have won in front of their own fans in that period. The list of teams struggling at home this season includes Spurs, who were beaten 4-1 by Arsenal on Sunday and have only won twice at home this season. They and Chelsea are among six sides averaging fewer points per game at home than away from home. Chelsea's late 1-1 draw against Burnley on Saturday was the eighth home game out of 14 in which they have dropped points this season. The overall home win rate of 42 per cent this season ranks as the fifth-lowest in Premier League history but the significance of home advantage has in fact been on the wane for over a century. Got Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱No Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 The graphic below shows the percentages of home wins, draws and away wins by season in the English top flight since the inception of the Football League in 1888. The trend is clear. The home win rate reached a high of 65 per cent in 1895 but has followed a steady decline since, dropping by around a third to this season's rate of 42 per cent. The rate of draws stood at just 12 per cent in 1890 before rising to a high of 32 per cent in 1973, but has declined in more recent years as the percentage of away wins has increased. From a low of just 16 per cent in 1901, the away win rate in English football's top flight has increased to 31 per cent, with the upward trend having accelerated in the last decade. During the Covid-hit 2020/21 season, when games were played without fans, the away win rate rose above the home win rate for the first time in history, at 40 per cent to 38 per cent. Why is home advantage on the wane? So what's behind the continuing decline of home advantage? Clubs have of course become better-equipped to deal with the challenges of playing away from home as infrastructure and facilities have improved over the course of history. Travel, while still an inconvenience, is far simpler and quicker in the modern age. Developments in sports science, coaching and preparation have undoubtedly played a part too. The resources available to top-level clubs are exhaustive and continue to become more advanced, allowing them to better cope with the exertions of playing away. Pitch standardisation is another factor. At the start of the 20th century, the Laws of the Game stipulated that pitches should be between 91-119m long and 46-91m wide, allowing huge variety in terms of size and often giving home sides a significant advantage. UEFA's pitch size requirements are now much narrower, between 100-105m long and 64-68m wide, ensuring far greater uniformity and reducing a layer of unfamiliarity for away sides. The same uniformity can be seen in the quality of playing surfaces due to technological advancements and stricter regulations. And what about fans? The disappearance of home advantage during that Covid-hit 2020/21, when the away win rate rose above the home win rate for the first time, proved they remain crucial. Have grounds become less hostile environments for away teams over time? And could rising supporter unrest, as seen at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, West Ham's London Stadium and elsewhere in recent seasons, in fact be impacting teams negatively? Or is that unrest down to results, rather than the other way around? The fact that, in Everton, Spurs and West Ham, three of the Premier League sides underperforming most at home this season are adapting to new or relatively new grounds, could be seen as evidence of the enduring importance of familiarity for home sides. Have your say on the biggest reason in our poll.

Thomas Morgan, 29, left little Jensen-Lee Dougal with "catastrophic" brain damage at the family home in Swansea after a row with his ex-girlfriend while the baby's mother was at work. At Swansea Crown Court on Wednesday, Judge Mary Stacey said Morgan had shaken Jensen-Lee in a violent attack that left him with extensive injuries, then lied about what happened. Jailing him for at least 19 years, she said: "The violent shaking with Jensen-Lee's head moving back and forward quickly accelerating and decelerating may have been very brief but it was hard enough to cause his extensive internal head injuries that caused his death." The court previously heard the baby died in hospital after suffering severe brain damage, numerous fractures and extensive retinal bleeding to both of his eyes. Morgan had been in a relationship with Jensen-Lee's mother, Jordan Dougal, and was treated as the baby's stepfather at the time of the murder. Caroline Rees KC, prosecuting, said Morgan "seriously abused the trust placed in him" when he carried out the "extremely violent attack" on Jensen-Lee on 30 March 2024, the day before he died. Morgan had a heated dispute with his former partner, Georgia Griffiths, earlier that day and was left alone with the infant while the baby's mother went to work. Ms Rees told the jury Morgan was "full of rage" following the row with Ms Griffiths over text message. She told the court: "It is clear that this abusive exchange had flipped some kind of switch in Thomas Morgan. "By the time he was alone with Jenson-Lee, he was angry and aggressive and in no state of mind to be caring for a young baby on his own." Read more from Sky News:The Ukrainian who swapped Wall Street for the frontlineStarmer concerned after 'serious incident' at Manchester mosque While at work, Ms Dougal got a call from Morgan telling her the baby was choking and had stopped breathing.The five-month-old was rushed to hospital but found to have a "devastating" brain injury and was taken off life support the following day. Morgan denied inflicting serious injuries on Jensen-Lee and said he tried to save the baby after he fell ill in his care, believing he had choked on his own sick. But he was found guilty of murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent after a trial at Swansea Crown Court. Mrs Justice Stacey sentenced Morgan, of Gorseinon, Swansea, to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 19 years. In a statement after the sentencing, Jensen-Lee's mother Jordan said: "Since Jensen-Lee's death, my life has been permanently changed. I live with overwhelming grief, trauma and emotional pain. "I never had the chance to hear Jensen-Lee say he loved me. I will never hear him call me 'mammy'. I will never see him take his first steps, speak his first words, start school, or grow into the person he was meant to be. "Due to what Thomas Morgan did, I have also received a life sentence, but mine is one of grief."

The entertainment conglomerate behind film production company Paramount Pictures and TV network CBS, announced a revised, best and final offer of $31 per WBD share and additional fees - an improvement on its initial $30 tender. Such a share bid has led WBD to say it could beat the existing Netflix offer, hotting up the fight for control of WBD, which counts comic book filmmakers DC Studios, TV network HBO and news channel CNN among its brands. A statement from WBD said the upped Paramount Skydance offer "could reasonably be expected to lead to a company superior proposal". Money blog: 'Sporadic shortages' of items on shelves as supply hit Competing to acquire the film and TV production as well as the streaming components of WBD, is streaming giant Netflix. While Netflix has consistently been the preferred bidder and has signed an agreement with WBD, it boosted its offer to $27.75 (£20.63) cash per WBD share. The competition, however, is for slightly different things. Paramount Skydance wants to acquire the entirety of WBD, not just a production and streaming spin-off. The best and final offer from Paramount Skydance comes at the end of a week extension granted by the WBD board, with the permission of Netflix. Netflix now has four days to submit a revised proposal or quit its quest to acquire part of WBD. Paramount Skydance, headed by the son of billionaire Trump supporter Larry Ellison, launched a hostile takeover attempt, ramped up in recent weeks by legal threats. The bidder directly approached WBD's shareholders and subsequently announced the launch of legal action to force the release of financial data. It has also threatened to nominate directors at WBD's annual meeting in an effort to get board approval for its takeover. Read more: First UK baby born from dead donor womb transplantMexican drug lord killed after visit from 'romantic partner' Why does it matter? A merger of WBD and either Paramount Skydance or Netflix would be one of the biggest media deals in history, with significant impacts on TV, filmmaking and the possible future of the cinema. Netflix has expressed scepticism over the future of cinema theatres, with the films it produces tending to be released directly to streaming without a cinema showing. Its increased ownership of film production companies could mean fewer or shorter duration theatre runs for films. If Paramount Skydance is successful in its takeover attempt, it would own CNN, as well as CBS News, sparking concern about concentrating news services within a small number of companies.

He made the pledge as he blamed rising loan costs on the Conservatives - after being asked about the issue by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch at Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters, Sir Keir's spokesman also suggested that ministers may consider reforms such as slashing interest rates and changing the repayment threshold. Earlier this week, Ms Badenoch promised to cut the interest paid on some student loans if elected, amid growing concern about the impact on graduates' finances. Politics latest: Commons Speaker gave Mandelson info to police It comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in November's budget that the salary threshold at which students have to start repaying the loans would be frozen at £29,385 for three years, leaving many having to pay more. Interest on Plan 2 student loans - lent to students in England who started their courses between 2012 and 2022 - is charged at a rate of the Retail Price Index (RPI) of inflation plus up to 3%, depending on how much a graduate earns. But Ms Badenoch said the Conservatives would restrict this to RPI only, as she said this would help more graduates pay off their debt. At PMQs, she pressed Sir Keir on the issue, asking if he would cut interest rates on student loans. He replied: "I have to say, I was glad to learn that the leader of the Opposition has finally admitted that they [the Conservatives] scammed the country on this, and that applies to everything they did in government. "We inherited their broken student loans system. We've already introduced maintenance grants to improve the situation, which they scrapped, and we will look at ways to make it fairer, and we will do other things within the economy to help students." Read more from Sky News:Ex-DJ sold fake plane parts to airlinesUK to be warmer than Malta and BarcelonaHow UK's travel system is changing today When Ms Badenoch asked if graduates were paying more or less under Labour, the prime minister did not directly answer. He said under the previous government, "inflation was at 11%, which crippled the state of finances for students as their loan rates went up". Ms Badenoch said: "The fact is, graduates are paying more, not less," as she accused Sir Keir of "taking from students to give to Benefit Street". Sir Keir replied: "What a nerve. Under their government, student loan thresholds were frozen for 10 years. "They broke the system, they did it with a bloke over there when they were in coalition together, and we're fixing it." Sir Keir's spokesman would not confirm if student loans would be included in the chancellor's spring statement next month and refused to provide any more details. But he said the government was keeping "under review the ways in which we can make life better for graduates".

The head coach told white-ball captain Harry Brook that he was going to promote him to No 3 for the T20 World Cup game against Pakistan and Brook proceeded to crack a 50-ball century in a two-wicket win that took the team into the semi-finals. "Baz [McCullum] was the mastermind there," Brook said. "He had the discussion with me this morning about going up the order and trying to maximise the powerplay. Thankfully, it paid off." Scorecard: England vs Pakistan, T20 World CupEngland vs Pakistan - as it happened in PallekeleStream the T20 World Cup without a contractListen to the latest Sky Sports Cricket Podcast In truth, though, the skipper coming in at first drop was hardly an out-there move. It was what former England all-rounder Moeen Ali had suggested should happen before the game, with Brook having batted exclusively at No 5 in T20Is in 2026 to that point. And it was, as we found out after the match when Brook spoke to Sky Sports' Michael Atherton at the presentation, what the man himself wanted. "I have been thinking about it for while," he revealed. It just appeared a common-sense decision all round. Get your best player in a position where he can face a substantial number of deliveries, especially with the guy who has been your best player for years - Jos Buttler - really toiling at the top of the order and the finishing role Brook had previously been earmarked for being performed admirably by Will Jacks. 'Whenever we lose against England, it's always Brook' Brook was into the game second ball in Pallekele on Tuesday after Buttler's opening partner Phil Salt snicked off for a golden duck. The captain was quickly into his work after getting off the mark second delivery, clipping and pulling paceman Salman Mirza for four and six respectively in the second over before mullering spinners Saim Ayub, Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan after that. Brook's strokes, some of them breathtaking, were based on decisive footwork, skipping to the pitch of certain deliveries but also moving deep into his crease before hauling shorter ones into the stands. The Yorkshireman's picking of length was impeccable. It was an innings of intelligence as well as impudence, including his slick running between the wickets as he used the vast outfield to turn ones in to twos around his 10 fours and four sixes. Brook completed a first T20I hundred with a lofted drive for four off Shaheen Shah Afridi, having backed away to leg the previous ball to cream a sublime six over extra-cover. The batter departed one ball after reaching three figures, out to a Shaheen slower ball, but earned a handshake from the bowler having punished Pakistan in yet another match. Brook's promotion in the first place had been with Pakistan in mind - an opposition against whom he averages 84.10 in Test cricket after four centuries and a fifty in six matches including a best of 317, and now 62.66 in T20 internationals after this dashing ton. "Whenever we play against England and we lose, it's always Brook," lamented Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha post-match. 'Unreal, ridiculous' special - Brook lauded after stunning ton Moeen and Jacks were among those to laud Brook as England toasted a sixth straight T20 win over Pakistan and safe passage into the knockout stages of this World Cup. Jacks, who shared a stand of 52 from 31 balls with Brook for the fifth wicket said: "That was a special knock. He had the extra responsibility and got a hundred straight away. "Shaheen was swinging the ball up top and we know the quality of their spinners but he made it look very easy. He led from the front "He is our best batter and should face as many balls as possible. He faced 20 in the powerplay and was in the flow when spin came on. He hasn't just slogged. He scored at a strike rate of 200 but it didn't feel like he chased the game at all. That's the skill." Moeen added: "When Brook plays like that, he is so good. There are not many better. It was an unbelievable knock, outstanding, and if he bats at No 3 in T20s, he will score 130s, 150s. "He plays spin better after facing seam early on and just puts pressure on bowlers. He hits good balls for fours and sixes. Some of the shots against spin were unbelievable. "The best way to get your message across [about being brave] is playing like this. I liked his game awareness as well, that was the most impressive thing. His energy running between the wickets. "Body language is a small thing but so important in T20 cricket and the way he was on… he was like a man possessed. His running, his shot, his shot selection was unreal." Harry Brook - England captain, England match-winner and, surely, now England's permanent T20 No 3. England's T20 World Cup Super 8s results and fixtures All times UK and Ireland; all games live on Sky Sports Cricket Beat Sri Lanka by 51 runs (Pallekele) - Sunday February 22Beat Pakistan by two wickets (Pallekele) - Tuesday February 24vs New Zealand (Colombo) - Friday February 27 (1.30pm) Watch every game from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup live on Sky Sports Cricket, including the competition final on Sunday March 8. Get Sky Sports or stream contract-free with NOW.