Albanian woman, 30, appears in court charged with stabbing seven-year-old girl to death in front of her horrified family on Mother’s Day as she rode her scooter in Bolton park
- Emily Jones, seven, was stabbed to death as she played in a park in Bolton
- The girl was stabbed in the neck in a savage and unprovoked attack this year
- Eltiona Skana has been charged with her murder and appeared in court today
A woman accused of the ‘random and unprovoked’ murder of a seven-year-old girl who was stabbed to death in front her family on Mother’s Day has appeared in court.
Eltiona Skana, 30, has been charged with the murder of Emily Jones, who was stabbed in front of her parents in Bolton, Greater Manchester as she played on her scooter during a day out at the park.
An inquest heard that Emily was stabbed in the neck by a woman who was sat on a wooden bench as the girl rode past her.
Skana, an Albanian national, has also been charged with possession of a bladed weapon in connection with Emily’s death on March 22 this year.
Little Emily Jones, pictured, was knifed to death in front of her horrified father as the family enjoyed a day out in a park in Bolton
Flowers were left at the scene following the horrific attack in Queen’s Park, Bolton on Mother’s Day this year
She appeared via video link at Manchester Crown Court today for a plea and trial preparation hearing.
Her barrister Simon Czoka QC requested that the defendant not be asked to enter a plea at the hearing.
Skana, with her hair in a bun and wearing a white sweater and gilet, did not speak during the brief hearing.
Skana was arrested on suspicion of Emily’s murder and detained under the Mental Health Act after the shocking attack.
Emergency services rushed to the scene at Queen’s Park in Bolton at around 2.35pm on Sunday, March 22.
Emily was rushed to nearby Salford Royal Hospital, but was tragically pronounced dead at 3.56pm despite the best efforts of medics who fought to save her life.
Police pictured in a cordoned-off area at Queen’s Park in Bolton, Greater Manchester, on March 23, where the seven-year-old died
At the time of her death, her heartbroken parents said little Emily was the ‘light’ of their lives.
They said: ‘Emily was seven-years-old, our only child and the light of our lives.
‘She was always full of joy, love and laughter.
‘Emily had such a cheeky smile and was beautiful inside and out. She had a heart as big as her smile.’
Emily’s father Mark Jones was present in court for the hearing.
A further hearing was scheduled for November 6.