Mum stands by partner accused of murdering daughter saying ‘it was an accident’

A mum whose 14-year-old daughter was stabbed in the heart by her dad claims she did not see how the fatal wound was caused but told jurors it must have been an accident.

Simon Vickers, 50, denies murder and manslaughter over the death of Scarlett Vickers at their home in Darlington, County Durham, last July.

He claims he unwittingly threw a knife at her in a ‘freak accident’ while they had a play-fight in the kitchen, but prosecutors say it must have been ‘held firmly’ when the 11cm wound was inflicted.

Scarlett’s mother Sarah Hall, who had been cooking spaghetti bolognese in the kitchen with them that night, was emotional at times as she gave evidence in support of her partner of 27 years.

She said: ‘We had a very happy family life, we all loved each other very much, we lived in a little bubble.

‘Simon treated Scarlett very well, he was a very hands-on dad, he loved her very much.’

Nicholas Lumley KC, defending Vickers, asked her: ‘Did you have any concerns about his care?’

Ms Hall replied: ‘No, never.’

Mr Lumley asked: ‘If you had thought he had murdered your daughter, would you still be with him?’

She replied: ‘Definitely not, she was my number one, she was my best friend, my girl.’

Ms Hall also said she would not still be with Vickers if she believed he had deliberately harmed their only daughter.

Outlining what happened that night, she said Scarlett had come down from her bedroom to talk to them at around 10pm.

They were having a ‘fun’ conversation about going on holiday and were excited, Ms Hall said.

She said that she and her daughter then tried to throw grapes into each others’ mouths, and Vickers joined in.

Ms Hall told the court she started to snip at Vickers in a playful manner with some tongs.

Scarlett told her father ‘don’t be so wimpy’ when he complained that it hurt.

Ms Hall turned away to start serving their meal, telling jurors: ‘I was aware they were still mucking around.’

She wept as she told jurors the next thing she remembered was Scarlett saying ‘ow’ and she turned around to her daughter.

‘She was just looking at me, I said “what’s up” and then I saw blood coming out of her side.’

Mr Lumley questioned whether she had asked her partner what he had done to their daughter.

She said she did not, explaining: ‘It would never cross my mind that he would ever do anything to her.’

She added: ‘I don’t know how it happened but I know he would never harm her so it didn’t even enter my head.’

Mr Lumley asked her if she had tried to protect her partner when she was interviewed by police.

‘No, there was nothing to protect,’ she said.

‘It was an accident. I know he would never harm her.

‘She was my little girl, she was my best friend, she always came first for the both of us.’

The trial continues.

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