Trial Begins for Ex-Boyfriend Accused of Murdering 9-Year-Old Valeriia in Döbeln

Prosecutors allege the Moldovan man killed the child to retaliate against her mother after their breakup.

Valeriia, a 9-year-old Ukrainian refugee, was murdered on her way to school in Döbeln, Germany, in June 2024.
The accused, a 37-year-old Moldovan man and ex-boyfriend of Valeriia's mother, allegedly suffocated the child in a forest as an act of revenge against her mother.
The mother testified about the accused's history of controlling behavior, violence, and threats, including saying, 'You will weep until the end of your life.'
A week-long search involving police, helicopters, drones, and specialized dogs ended with the discovery of Valeriia's body in a wooded area.
The accused was arrested in Prague under a European warrant and extradited to Germany, where he now faces life imprisonment if convicted.