Simon Vickers is on trial, denying he murdered or unlawfully killed his daughter Scarlett during an incident in their kitchen in Darlington on July 5, last year.
The 50-year-old explained to arriving police that what started as play quickly turned tragic when Scarlett began bleeding heavily from her chest... Continue reading here ▶
Prosecutors at Teesside Crown Court argue that the event was no accident. Defense attorney Nicholas Lumley stressed that Scarlett was deeply loved by her parents and that Vickers had no intention to harm her.
According to Lumley, the two were playfully messing around in the kitchen when Scarlett accidentally got hurt by a sharp knife, leading to her death from a single stab wound.
Despite accepting moral responsibility for his daughter’s death, Vickers insists that her death was not intentional.
Mark McKone, leading the prosecution, described how Scarlett, a student, suffered an 11cm deep wound near her heart. At the time, her mother, Sarah Hall, was there and attempted to save her, but Scarlett died on the kitchen floor.
The court heard that during a 999 call, Hall explained they were just fooling around when the injury happened.
Paramedic Andrew Crow shared that initially, the parents were unclear about the cause, but later, Hall described a scenario where they were playfully throwing objects, including knives. Crow recounted Vickers showing how a knife accidentally stabbed Scarlett during their play.
The scene was tense when police arrived, finding both parents bloodied and distressed. Vickers mentioned they were cooking and playfully throwing kitchen items around. He admitted they had been drinking wine and did not realize Scarlett was injured until she screamed.
Vickers recounted to the police how a casual kitchen play led to the tragic incident, stating that it happened swiftly and effortlessly.
After Scarlett collapsed, he had his partner call emergency services as he was too shaken to do it himself. He maintained that such playful behavior was typical for them.
The prosecution challenges this narrative, suggesting that the injury was inflicted with intention, as indicated by forensic analysis of the knife, which showed signs consistent with a stabbing action.
The pathologist’s report confirmed that the knife penetrated deeply enough to reach Scarlett’s heart, leading to immediate fatal blood loss.
The trial continues, with both sides presenting their interpretations of the tragic events that led to Scarlett’s untimely death.
