SCHOOLGIRL Emily Jones' killer has been sentenced to life in prison and will spend at least eight years behind bars.

Mr Justice Wall told Eltiona Skana that although she has paranoid scizophrenia she bore some responsibility for her actions and will be treated in hospital until she is well enough to be transferred to jail.

"If you are never deemed fit for release you will remain in prison or hospital for the remainder of your life," he told her.

Skana sat in the dock at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court as seven-year-old Emily's family looked on.

READ MORE: Dad says Emily was the beat in our hearts

The sentencing comes after 30-year-old Skana’s trial was halted last week and she was found not guilty of murdering seven-year-old Emily Jones in Queens Park, Bolton, on Mothers’ Day.

After the seven day trial the prosecution offered no evidence as psychiatrists who were witnesses could offer no explanation for Skana’s behaviour other than she had paranoid schizophrenia and was delusional at the time she slashed Emily’s throat. The judge instructed the jury to return a “not guilty” of murder verdict.

The Bolton News: Emily JonesEmily Jones

Skana, of Ernest Street, Bolton, who was detained at Rampton high security hospital in Nottinghamshire after killing Emily on March 22, had already pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

But judge, Mr Justice Wall said that, although it is accepted that Skana was having a psychotic episode at the time she killed Emily, he found it troubling that she was aware enough to purchase the knife, sit in a park concealing herself with her hood up and run away afterwards.

And at Skana's last meeting with her community psychiatric nurse, 11 days before she killed Emily, she claimed to be taking her medication. In fact she had stopped taking her anti-psychotic tablets.

"She knew enough and realised enough about her position to lie about it to the mental health worker," said Mr Justice Wall.

READ MORE: A history of violence and mental illness

He told Skana: "The devastating effects of what you did will live with Emily's parents forever. It is obvious that nothing I can say or do can restore Emily to her family or offer any real comfort to them in their immense loss.

"There was no obvious reason for you doing what you did."

The Bolton News: Emily JonesEmily Jones

But he added that Skana's mental health condition does not remove her responsibility for what she did.

"In my judgement you retain a significant amount of responsibility," he said.

"You went out to a shop before you had even met or seen Emily Jones. You there bought or acquired craft knives for which you had no obvious use other than to use as weapons.

READ MORE: Watch as Skana on CCTV

"You went to a park where you knew you would be in close proximity to many people.

"You allowed a number of people to pass before you alighted on Emily as your victim.

"You had the presence of mind to pull your hood up before attacking her. There was no obvvious reason for you to do so other than to disguise your appearance to reduce the chance that you would be apprehended.

"You delivered a fatal blow and then made off.

"You knew you had done something which would be regarded as seriously wrong and wanted to avoid facing the consequences for that.

"Although the reason for your offending is to be found in the paranoid scizophrenia, all of these factors lead me to conclude that you retained a real understanding of the nature of your actions and an ability to decide on a course of action that, to you, appeared to be rational but which you knew was wrong."

READ MORE: Every parents' worst nightmare

Mr Justice Wall also praised Tony Canty, who chased and caught hold of Skana until police arrived, even though he knew she had a knife.

"He is to be commended for his swift and brave response," the judge told Skana

"He could not save Emily but his actions ensured that you were caught and detained promptly."

The Bolton News: Emily JonesEmily Jones

Following the sentencing senior investigating officer Duncan Thorpe, of the Greater Manchester Police's major incident team, said: "This was an absolutely devastating incident that has left Emily's parents and family completely heartbroken and I know it sent shockwaves across the country as everyone mourned the loss of this innocent little girl.

The Bolton News: Emily JonesEmily Jones

“Emily was taken from her family and friends in the worst possible way. No sentence can ever undo what happened on that awful day in March, but Emily's spirit will live on in her family and I know that she will never be forgotten."

READ MORE: Emily's legacy