Court hears how Darlington man accused of murdering daughter was a "loving father"
The trial of a Darlington man, accused of stabbing his teenage daughter through the heart, has heard from her mother today
Last updated 1st May 2025
The trial of a Darlington man, accused of stabbing his teenage daughter through the heart, has heard from her mother.
Simon Vickers, 50, denies the murder and manslaughter of 14 year old Scarlett.
Today, Vickers' partner, Sarah Hall, has told jurors that he was a loving father who would never harm their only child.
Teesside Crown Court has heard Scarlett died after being stabbed through the heart, at their home in Geneva Road, Darlington, County Durham, last July,
Vickers told police, and the court, they had been play-fighting and he had accidentally thrown a knife without realising.
Teesside Crown Court has heard Scarlett died after being stabbed through the heart, with prosecutors saying the 11cm wound was too deep to have been caused accidentally, and the knife must have been "held firmly" at the time.
Her mother Sarah Hall, who had been cooking spaghetti bolognese in the kitchen with them that night, was emotional in the witness box 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.