Darlington play-fight declare dad jailed for murdering daughter

A father has been jailed for no less than 15 years for murdering his daughter after the jury rejected his declare he had killed her in a play-fight.

Scarlett Vickers, 14, bled to loss of life at her house in Darlington after being stabbed deep within the chest with a kitchen knife by means of her father Simon Vickers, 50, in July.

Vickers had claimed the deadly damage was once “a freak twist of fate” led to whilst they have been “mucking about”, however jurors at Teesside Crown Court docket discovered him in charge of homicide with a majority verdict.

Jailing Vickers for lifestyles with a minimal time period, Mr Justice Cotter stated the killer had by no means been honest in regards to the “lack of mood” that became a “satisfied circle of relatives night time into tragedy”.

The court docket heard Vickers’ spouse and Scarlett’s mom Sarah Corridor, who was once additionally provide when she was once killed, was once “resolute” in her trust that he was once blameless.

Scarlett suffered an 4in-deep (11cm) wound to her center within the kitchen of her circle of relatives house on Geneva Street at the night of five July, her homicide trial had heard.

Each her father and mom claimed the damage was once inflicted by chance however a pathologist stated it was once “nearly unimaginable” for it to had been led to by means of anything else different different a knife being held firmly in a hand.

On the sentencing listening to, prosecutor Mark McKone KC printed Vickers had a prior conviction from 1993 for wounding with intent after he slashed a person’s face with a Stanley knife, for which the then 19-year-old were given two years’ detention, in addition to some dishonesty offences.

Mr McKone stated Vickers’ account of what came about to Scarlett was once “inconsistent” with the pathologist’s findings.

In mitigation, Nicholas Lumley KC stated Ms Corridor and Vickers’ oldsters remained “resolute of their trust” he “didn’t intend Scarlett any hurt”.

Mr Lumley stated: “None of them can in reality imagine he’s now to be referred to as Scarlett’s assassin.”

Ms Corridor had prior to now advised jurors she was once status by means of her spouse of 27 years and was once adamant he would by no means have intentionally harmed their daughter.

Scarlett’s oldsters had stated they have been all “mucking about” and throwing grapes at every different within the kitchen whilst Ms Corridor was once making spaghetti Bolognese.

Ms Corridor had advised police and paramedics she had were given the knife out to chop garlic bread and positioned them subsequent to a few tongs.

Vickers advised the court docket he swiped a couple of tongs in opposition to Scarlett which will have to have stuck a knife, which he had now not noticed.

He stated he didn’t know what had in fact came about however concept the knife had were given stuck in opposition to a sizzling plate and Scarlett had run directly to the 8in-long (20cm) blade.

Prosecutors stated that was once extraordinarily not going with forensic pathologist Dr Jennifer Bolton concluding Vickers would most certainly must had been keeping the knife in his hand for it to purpose the devastating damage to Scarlett.

Vickers had stated he bore “ethical accountability” for killing his daughter however claimed it were a “freak twist of fate” within the confines in their small kitchen.

Jurors spent greater than 13 hours deliberating prior to attaining a majority settlement, with 10 discovering Vickers in charge of homicide.

Mr Justice Cotter stated he had “unquestionably” Vickers were keeping the knife and the killer, who was once the one one that in fact knew what passed off, had “by no means given a honest rationalization of what came about”.

The pass judgement on stated Vickers’ account was once “unconvincing and wholly improbable”, telling him: “The one you love daughter deserved the reality, you haven’t given it.”

Scarlett was once a “standard, wholesome younger woman with a longevity forward of her” which was once “reduce quick” by means of her father, the pass judgement on stated, including: “It went from an extraordinary, satisfied circle of relatives Friday night time into tragedy inside of seconds because of what will have to had been [Vickers’] lack of mood.”

Mr Justice Cotter stated there was once a “non permanent however devastating act of anger” that had “stolen one younger, valuable lifestyles”.

The court docket heard Vickers had smoked hashish and inebriated wine throughout the night, with police noting he was once slurring his speech after they arrived.