Albanian woman, 30, pleads guilty to stabbing seven-year-old girl to death in front of her horrified family on Mother’s Day as she rode scooter in Bolton park
- Eltiona Skana, 30, pleaded guilty to unlawful killing at Manchester Crown Court
- Skana stabbed seven-year-old Emily Jones to death in Queen’s Park, Bolton
- Emily’s parents watched in horror as Skana launched the attack on Mother’s Day
An Albanian woman, 30, has admitted to stabbing a seven-year-old girl to death in front of her horrified family while she rode a scooter through a Bolton park on Mother’s Day.
Eltiona Skana, 30, pleaded guilty to the charge of unlawful killing during a brief hearing when she appeared at Manchester Crown Court via videolink from high-security Rampton Hospital in Nottinghamshire.
Emily, seven, was stabbed to death as she visited Queen’s Park in Bolton with her parents on March 22.
The only child died shortly after the apparently random attack.
Emily Jones’ parents witnessed their seven-year-old daughter being stabbed to death in Queen’s Park, Bolton, on Mother’s Day. Today Eltiona Skana, 30, pleaded guilty to the charge of unlawful killing
Appearing at today’s hearing via videolink, Skana was accompanied by a member of her legal team at the hospital.
Skana, originally from Albania, pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of the murder of the youngster on March 22 at Queen’s Park in Bolton.
Prosecuting lawyers have seven days to consider the plea.
A trial on the count of murder is scheduled to begin on November 23.
Speaking at a previous hearing, Judge Richard Mansell QC, addressed Emily’s father, saying: ‘I’m going to say something to you personally. I can’t imagine the pain you and your wife are going through at the moment.
‘You have my personal, deepest sympathy and I’m sure the deepest sympathy of everyone involved in the court process.
‘This case is clearly one that has a high priority.
‘You have my deepest sympathy for what is an unimaginable loss.’