Father Convicted of Murdering 14-Year-Old Daughter in Darlington Kitchen

Simon Vickers claimed the fatal stabbing was a tragic accident, but forensic evidence and inconsistent accounts led to his conviction.

Simon Vickers, 50, was found guilty of murdering his daughter Scarlett, 14, after she suffered an 11cm stab wound to the chest in July 2024.
Vickers initially claimed the stabbing occurred during a playful scuffle in the kitchen, but forensic experts testified that the wound could only have been inflicted with force.
The jury at Teesside Crown Court rejected Vickers' defense of a 'freak accident' after hearing multiple inconsistent accounts of the incident.
Scarlett's mother, Sarah Hall, who was present during the incident, supported Vickers during the trial, maintaining that he loved their daughter and would never harm her.
Vickers, who had been drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis on the day of the incident, is scheduled to be sentenced on February 10, 2025.