The woman who killed schoolgirl Emily Jones after slashing her neck in a park could have her sentenced reduced.
Eltiona Skana received a life sentence with a minimum of ten years and eight months, as well as a hospital order that dictates she will be not be sent to jail until she is deemed fit by medical professionals.
The 31-year-old pleaded guilty to manslaughter by means of diminished responsibility after fatally cutting her 7-year-old victim across the neck in Queens Park, Bolton, on March 22, 2020, Manchester Evening News reports.
A court heard how Skana - who suffers from severe paranoid schizophrenia - sat in wait on a bench as Emily rode past on her scooter, at which point she suddenly grabbed the youngster and attacked her with a craft knife she had bought earlier in the day.
Now, after being granted leave to appeal in August last year, Skana will have chance to plead her case before the Court of Appeal on February 2.
Passing his sentence on Skana, Judge Mr Justice Wall told her she would be detained in a secure hospital until 'no longer necessary' and that if she was ever released from hospital she would go straight to prison to serve her term.
In a victim impact statement read in court Emily's dad Mark Jones described his daughter as a 'kind child' who was 'bright and funny'.
He added: "Emily was a vulnerable child full of innocence and wonder, she was just starting off on her path of life and her future was cut short.
"Our future has also been taken away. How can we enjoy life when the best part of it has been taken away?"
Skana pleaded guilty to manslaughter but was found not guilty of murdering Emily, after prosecutors dropped the charge.
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