14-Year-Old Denies Murder Charge in Teen Girl's Death
A schoolboy has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Lilly Jones, 14, who was discovered with stab wounds in a Welsh park.
A 14-year-old boy has denied murdering Lilly Jones, a 14-year-old girl who was found dead in a park with stab wounds after she went missing. The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, entered his plea at Newport Crown Court on Tuesday.
Lilly was reported missing on the evening of June 20. Her body was discovered two days later, on June 22, hidden in undergrowth approximately 500 yards from her home in Blaina, Gwent, Wales. Emergency services were called to Duffryn Park, where Lilly was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination determined her provisional cause of death to be multiple stab wounds to the neck and trunk.
Her family described Lilly as a "beautiful, kind and caring" girl who was "quirky and confident, sassy and dramatic." They stated that the word "heartbroken" did not adequately express their grief and that their loss had left an "unimaginable hole" in their lives and the community. They expressed gratitude for the community's support and donations.
Senior coroner Caroline Saunders opened an inquest into Lilly's death, noting it was a "traumatic death." The inquest has been paused pending the outcome of the ongoing police and criminal investigation. A provisional inquest date has been set for April 6, 2027.
Detective Chief Inspector Steven Thomas stated that thoughts remain with Lilly's family and friends during this difficult time, and they are being supported by specialist officers. He urged the public to be mindful of their language, particularly online comments, to avoid jeopardizing the investigation.
A trial date has been set for November 23, expected to last four weeks. The community of Blaina has raised approximately £20,000 for a memorial dedicated to Lilly.