The Zakarpattia Regional Prosecutor's Office has confirmed in the appellate court the legality of the sentence, which sentenced the stepfather to life imprisonment for beating his 10-year-old stepdaughter to death.

The man, while in a state of alcohol intoxication, inflicted over 75 blows on the child – with his hands, feet, and a wooden table leg. During the beating, the five-year-old sister of Maiya was also injured, sustaining at least 12 blows.

After the brutal beating, the adults did not call for medical help and did not provide assistance. The stepfather and the mother simply went to bed, leaving the children alone. The younger sister reported that she spent the whole night next to the injured Maiya and only in the morning realized that she was not breathing.

The convicted man was detained immediately after the tragedy. He was held in custody without the right to bail. He was found guilty of beating and intentionally killing a minor child with particular cruelty (part 1 of article 125, subparagraphs 2, 4 of part 2 of article 115 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) and was sentenced to the harshest punishment – life imprisonment.

The head of the Zakarpattia Regional Prosecutor's Office, who led the group of prosecutors in the case during the court debates, stated: “The child was betrayed by those who should have been her support. This is not just a sentence for one man. It is a sentence for the indifference that takes lives.”

Separately, the case against the mother, who was at home, witnessed the beating, but did not intervene, is being considered in court. She is charged with leaving a minor child in danger, resulting in death (part 3 of article 135 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The younger sister now lives with her biological father and is undergoing psychological rehabilitation.