A 14-year-old girl in Florida learned on Wednesday that she will stand trial as an adult for killing her grandmother in May.
Sofia Koval, who is from Ukraine, was accused of fatally beating Yevheniia Koval, 80, with her walker and belt. The teen told her father that Yevheniia Koval had scratched her, leading her to strike the victim several times with a belt in self defense, according to WTVJ.
Reports indicated that Sophia Koval’s father said he left his teen daughter with his mother while he visited a friend. The elderly woman was found battered and bruised that evening.
READ: 14-Year-Old Girl Charged With Murdering Elderly Grandmother Found Battered on Floor
According to Law & Crime, Yevheniia Koval suffered 15 abrasions to her neck and face, bruising to her hands, arms, and leg, hemorrhaging to the right side of her neck and arms, scalp contusions and hemorrhaging, and a brain bleed. Her death was ruled a homicide.
The teen’s father reportedly also told police that he took his daughter’s cellphone shortly before the incident. He said his daughter recently moved to the U.S. from Ukraine, and he believed her behavioral issues stemmed from what she witnessed in the war and from being away from her mother, Law & Crime reported.
Once in custody, the teen allegedly told police that her grandmother “was already dying and that she helped her die.”
Authorities noted in their report that Sofia Koval appeared sleep-deprived and experiencing a psychotic episode. Despite this, a judge ruled there was probable cause for the manslaughter charge and ordered her jailed without bond.
In a statement issued to WPLG, Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor explained why they sought to have the 14-year-old prosecuted as an adult.
“Due to the severity of the crime and after reviewing the defense’s presentations, we believe the case should proceed in adult court,” he said. “We are exploring all options and working closely with the Broward Public Defender’s Office to find a resolution that holds her accountable while considering her age and the circumstances of the case.”
Florida prosecutors have been in contact with the Ukranian consulate regarding this case.
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[Feature Photo: Broward County Sheriff’s Office; Facebook]
