'Distorted' schoolgirl, 14, who 'beat her grandmother to death' is filmed praying in court

A Florida schoolgirl accused of beating her grandmother to death after having her phone taken away was filmed desperately praying in court.

Sofia Koval, 14, is charged with the murder of her grandmother, 79-year-old Yevheniia Koval in Lauderdale Lakes, about 30 miles north of Miami.

She was seen praying as she waited to be charged with second-degree murder in Broward County court shortly after her arrest.

Yevheniia was found unresponsive and covered in bruises by her son Vladimir Koval on May 23, and was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. 

A medical examiner then determined the grandmother's death was a homicide.

Sofia Koval, 14, is charged with the murder of her grandmother, 79-year-old Yevheniia Koval

Yevheniia's son then told police he had left her with his teenage daughter Sofia while he went to visit a friend.

Vladimir added that hours before finding his mother unresponsive on the floor he had taken Sofia's cell phone because of her 'behavioral issues.'

The father said Sofia had recently moved to the US from Ukraine and was showing behavioral issues, which he 'believed are from the war she witnessed in Ukraine and being separated from her mother.'

Police said they determined Sofia was a suspect through 'Through investigative methods' but haven't provided additional details.

'It was determined that the teenager physically struck the victim multiple times. Due to the minor striking the grandmother, she was killed,' read Sofia's arrest report

Yevheniia was found unresponsive and covered in bruises by her son Vladimir Koval on May 23, and was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead

Neighbors of the family told local media they were shocked by the allegations against the teen. The family's apartment building is pictured above

'It was determined that the teenager physically struck the victim multiple times. Due to the minor striking the grandmother, she was killed,' read Sofia's arrest report.

Neighbors of the family told WSVN they were shocked by the allegations against the teen. 

An unnamed neighbor said: 'She’s a good girl. It’s just something I can’t see Sofia doing.'

Meanwhile a family friend said Sofia had been struggling over her mom being in the United Kingdom.

'She can’t get over here so she’s, she was distorted. I can’t see her doing anything drastic,' the family friend told the local news outlet.

Sofia's father was present in court with a Ukrainian translator.

She has not yet entered a plea and it's unclear whether she will be charged as a juvenile or as an adult. 

Her next court hearing is set for June 12.