Darlington dad Simon Vickers guilty of murdering daughter
Family handout
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.
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 thrown knife.
The jury rejected the 50-year-old’s explanation. He will be sentenced in February.
Durham Police
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.
Her parents were the only other people present.
The prosecution’s case relied on the pathologist’s conclusion her fatal injury must have been inflicted by a blade being firmly held in Vickers’ hand.
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Scarlett died at her home in Geneva Road, Darlington
His lawyers said Vickers was already serving a “life sentence” after Scarlett’s death.
Jurors spent 13 hours and 21 minutes 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.
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.
“Sadly, today’s verdict will not bring Scarlett back, but he will now face the consequences of his actions.”
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