Heartbroken Parents of Girl Killed in Hit and Run Say They’ve “Died a Little” Every Day Since Tragedy
Tragedy Strikes
Katniss Seleznev, seven, was left for dead after being struck by a teen speeding down the street on a stolen Suzuki motorbike.
The Fatal Accident
Katniss had been out playing with her twin brother and older sister in July 2023 for less than a minute when the 14-year-old, now 15, barrelled towards her.
The teen, whose identity is kept anonymous by law, was travelling at speeds of up to 52mph on the 30mph-limit Turnstone Rd, Walsall.
Katniss flew about 20 metres after impact, leaving her “to die like an animal on the street” according to a statement her father read out in court.
The boy failed to stop, opting instead to burn the bike and attempt to hide it in bushes.
He was caught on CCTV on a nearby road telling a pack of other teens “she’s a vegetable”.
Sentencing and Agony
The boy was on Wednesday sentenced to five years and four months detention – but will only have to serve half before being released on licence, meaning he’ll be freed subject to conditions.
Katniss’ parents have now detailed their continuing agony.
Dad Bojil, 49, told Birmingham Live: “In a blink of an eye she was brutally killed. We cannot imagine the pain and fear she suffered.
“What were her last thoughts?”
The Long-lasting Pain
The lorry driver went on to slam “not fair” sentencing guidelines for causing death by dangerous driving.
“The judge gave him the maximum he could (after the guilty plea).
“Katniss has gone and it’s not light any more – it’s only darkness, emptiness, sadness and sorrow.
“The pain is indescribable and devastating. There is no way to look at the world as it was before.
“Everyday we die little-by-little, there is no hope and no comfort – there is no pill for that.
“We’d do anything to bring her back and to wake up from this nightmare.
“Our dreams are ruined, everything is ruined. The most precious child’s life has been taken from us.”
Community Support and Coping
Every day we die little by littleBojil
Mum Lina paid tribute to her fallen daughter by lighting a candle on each of the 40 days following the disaster.
Bojil said: “This is our belief as part of our Christian orthodox religion.
She was part of me, a piece of me. Everyday she was hugging me, she’d go to the school door and blow kisses at me.
“She’d say to me: ‘I love you mummy, you’re the best mummy.’ She was very sensitive.”
Lina said she has hardly left the house since the events of July 27 last year.
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