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| Scarlett Vickers: Darlington dad guilty of murdering daughter | |
| (14 days later) | |
| Scarlett Vickers died at her home in July after being stabbed in the chest | Scarlett Vickers died at her home in July after being stabbed in the chest |
| A man who claimed his daughter died in a "freak accident" during a play-fight with a knife has been found guilty of her murder. | A man who claimed his daughter died in a "freak accident" during a play-fight with a knife has been found guilty of her murder. |
| Scarlett Vickers, 14, bled to death at her home in Darlington in July after suffering a 4in-deep (11cm) stab wound to her chest. | Scarlett Vickers, 14, bled to death at her home in Darlington in July after suffering a 4in-deep (11cm) stab wound to her chest. |
| Simon Vickers claimed he caused the fatal injury while they were "mucking about", but a pathologist told Teesside Crown Court it was "practically impossible" for the wound to have been caused by a knife which had been thrown in the manner the defendant claimed. | Simon Vickers claimed he caused the fatal injury while they were "mucking about", but a pathologist told Teesside Crown Court it was "practically impossible" for the wound to have been caused by a knife which had been thrown in the manner the defendant claimed. |
| The jury rejected the 50-year-old's explanation. He will be sentenced in February. | The jury rejected the 50-year-old's explanation. He will be sentenced in February. |
| Simon Vickers was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing | Simon Vickers was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing |
| The trial had heard Scarlett died at her home in Geneva Road after being stabbed in the kitchen on 5 July. | The trial had heard Scarlett died at her home in Geneva Road after being stabbed in the kitchen on 5 July. |
| Her parents were the only other people present. | Her parents were the only other people present. |
| Mr Vickers had told the court he and Scarlett's mother, Sarah Hall, "would never harm" their daughter, adding: "She was our life, our purpose." | Mr Vickers had told the court he and Scarlett's mother, Sarah Hall, "would never harm" their daughter, adding: "She was our life, our purpose." |
| Her parents had said they were all "mucking about", throwing grapes at each other in the kitchen. | Her parents had said they were all "mucking about", throwing grapes at each other in the kitchen. |
| Ms Hall had told police and paramedics she had got the knife out to cut garlic bread and placed them next to some tongs. | Ms Hall had told police and paramedics she had got the knife out to cut garlic bread and placed them next to some tongs. |
| Mr Vickers told the court he swiped a pair of tongs towards Scarlett which must have caught a knife, which he had not seen. | Mr Vickers told the court he swiped a pair of tongs towards Scarlett which must have caught a knife, which he had not seen. |
| Scarlett's mother backed up Mr Vickers' version of events, telling jurors she believed it was an accident and her partner of 27 years would never harm their daughter. | Scarlett's mother backed up Mr Vickers' version of events, telling jurors she believed it was an accident and her partner of 27 years would never harm their daughter. |
| Police station video shows Simon Vickers telling police he and his daughter Scarlett were just "mucking about" | Police station video shows Simon Vickers telling police he and his daughter Scarlett were just "mucking about" |
| The prosecution's case relied on the pathologist's conclusion Scarlett's fatal injury must have been inflicted by a blade being firmly held in Vickers' hand. | The prosecution's case relied on the pathologist's conclusion Scarlett's fatal injury must have been inflicted by a blade being firmly held in Vickers' hand. |
| Forensic pathologist Jennifer Bolton told the court kitchen knives were not designed to be thrown and the blade would have had to strike at a 90-degree angle to pass through Scarlett's pyjama top into her chest, otherwise it would have rebounded off. | Forensic pathologist Jennifer Bolton told the court kitchen knives were not designed to be thrown and the blade would have had to strike at a 90-degree angle to pass through Scarlett's pyjama top into her chest, otherwise it would have rebounded off. |
| Vickers said Scarlett was a "normal" and "cheeky" teenager and "fantastic daughter" who was "good at most things she did". | Vickers said Scarlett was a "normal" and "cheeky" teenager and "fantastic daughter" who was "good at most things she did". |
| He said he had drunk about four glasses of wine on the evening of 5 July while watching the football and all three were happy and in a good mood. | He said he had drunk about four glasses of wine on the evening of 5 July while watching the football and all three were happy and in a good mood. |
| His lawyers said Vickers was already serving a "life sentence" after Scarlett's death. | His lawyers said Vickers was already serving a "life sentence" after Scarlett's death. |
| Scarlett died at her home in Geneva Road, Darlington | Scarlett died at her home in Geneva Road, Darlington |
| Jurors spent more than 13 hours deliberating their verdict before reaching a majority agreement, with 10 finding Vickers guilty of murder. | Jurors spent more than 13 hours deliberating their verdict before reaching a majority agreement, with 10 finding Vickers guilty of murder. |
| He was remanded in custody to be sentenced on 10 February. | He was remanded in custody to be sentenced on 10 February. |
| Senior Crown Prosecutor with CPS North East Anna Barker said Mr Vickers' account had been "wholly inconsistent with the forensic evidence" in the case. | Senior Crown Prosecutor with CPS North East Anna Barker said Mr Vickers' account had been "wholly inconsistent with the forensic evidence" in the case. |
| Det Supt Craig Rudd of Durham Police said Scarlett had had "her whole life ahead of her" but it was "cruelly cut short by a man who was meant to protect her". | Det Supt Craig Rudd of Durham Police said Scarlett had had "her whole life ahead of her" but it was "cruelly cut short by a man who was meant to protect her". |
| He added: "We may never know why or what caused Simon Vickers to do what he did that night. | He added: "We may never know why or what caused Simon Vickers to do what he did that night. |
| "Sadly, today's verdict will not bring Scarlett back, but he will now face the consequences of his actions." | "Sadly, today's verdict will not bring Scarlett back, but he will now face the consequences of his actions." |
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