Parents of Walsall girl killed by teenager in hit-and-run say they are 'dying little by little'

The devastated parents of a seven-year-old girl say the light has gone from their lives after the teenage biker who killed her was jailed for just five years. Katniss Seleznev was left for dead “like an animal” by the 14-year-old moments after she asked: “Mom, can I go out and play?”

The rider, now aged 15, was driving a stolen Suzuki and reached speeds of up to 52mph in a 20mph limit on Turnstone Road, Blakenall, before crashing into the schoolgirl, throwing her around 20 meters. She had been outside for less than a minute while playing with her twin brother and older sister.

The bike was thrown into the bushes and set on fire. Speaking after the teenager, who is granted anonymity under the law, was jailed for just five years and four months after admitting causing death by dangerous driving, Katniss's parents told BirminghamLive that they were “dying a little” every day. They said Katniss was “the life, heart and soul of the house.”

READ MORE: Killer schoolboy on stolen bike mowed down Katniss Seleznev, 7, in horror 80km/h hit-and-run

Her father, truck driver Bojil, 49, told BirminghamLive: “In the blink of an eye she was brutally killed. We can't imagine the pain and fear she went through. What was his last thoughts?

“The sentence is not fair – what happened was reckless and dangerous. But it is the law set by Parliament. The judge gave him the maximum he could (after the guilty plea). Katniss is gone and it's no longer light – it's just darkness, emptiness, sadness and grief are indescribable and devastating. There is no way to look at the world as it was before.

“Every day we die little by little, there is no hope or comfort, there is no pill for that. We would do anything to bring her back and wake up from this nightmare. Our dreams are ruined, everything is ruined.” . The life of the most precious child was taken from us. »

Katniss was about to go to the park with her siblings and their mother Lina while the 46-year-old prepared some scooters. The killer rider will serve half his sentence before being released on licence.

Katniss was buried in North Walsall Cemetery. Paying tribute to his daughter, Bojil added: “She was full of life, happiness, joy and kindness. She was the life, heart and soul of the house. She was a dream child. She was so loving and compassionate. She helped everyone. She was full of life and dreamed of becoming a mother herself.

In a heartbreaking tribute, Lina lit a candle every day for 40 days after Katniss' death. This represented their faith as the flame illuminated because Katniss was afraid of the dark. Surprisingly, she said bikes were still traveling at high speeds on the road where Katniss was fatally injured.

“We lit a candle because it is our belief as an integral part of our Orthodox Christian religion,” Bojil said. “It was during the first 40 days. We think her spirit is around us for 40 days. After that we think she was in heaven.” Lina added: “Can you imagine lighting a candle and there are still lots of bikes? Just a few days ago a group of them passed by.”

Recalling the day of the tragedy, Lina said: “Katniss asked me, 'Mom, can you curl my hair?' For the first time in my life, I curled her hair, it was just before she was killed. She said she wanted to go play and within a minute she was hit.

After the collision, Lina rushed out and found her daughter unconscious. She said: “I knew then (that she had died). It was a shock. The first few days we didn't know what had happened.” The couple said people tried to help by performing CPR, including an off-duty nurse. Katniss was rushed to the hospital but could not be saved.

A shrine created on the road following the tragedy still exists. Stuffed animals line the sidewalk and surround the street sign. An eighth birthday card was left for Katniss's birthday, February 1st.

Lina has barely left her house since the tragedy of July 27 in the evening. She said: “I can’t see motorcyclists because it takes me back to that time.

“I'm trying to live, but we don't know what to do. Everything is dead for me. She was part of me, a piece of me. Every day she hugged me, she went to the door of the school and she kissed me: “I love you mom, you are the best mom.”

Lina and Bojil moved to London from Varna in Bulgaria in 2008 and have lived in Walsall since 2016. Lina had several ectopic pregnancies before resorting to IVF to conceive the couple's first child, a daughter born in 2013 and now aged 11. Katniss and her twin brother, who is now eight, were conceived in 2016 after three rounds of IVF.

Teachers and a police family liaison officer supported the family, as well as the community. The couple wanted to thank everyone who helped and supported them during the worst times of their lives.

Bojil said: “The community has been very supportive from the first days – it means so much. People continue to leave flowers, thank you very much.” Lina adds: “The school helps us a lot. Two teachers come every two weeks to support us.”

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