Darlington dad – ‘I must be the unluckiest man in the world’

Simon Vickers told officers the pair were enjoying some ‘horseplay’ in the kitchen when Scarlett suffered an 11cm wound to her chest which pierced her lung and heart.

The 50-year-old was arrested and charged with murder after paramedics were unable to save her life when they were called to their Darlington home, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Initially, Vickers and his partner, Sarah Hall, were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but the charges were upgraded after they learned their only child had died.

Scarlett Vickers (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Jurors watched footage from inside Darlington police station as he was told the devastating news.

They watched as he held his head in his hands saying ‘no’ before dropping his head onto the counter saying ‘I want to die. She’s the light of my life, if she is gone, I’m gone.

“How the f*** has this happened? I don’t believe it.”

The defendant is clearly distressed after hearing the news.

Ms Hall, who had all charges against her dropped last year, was also filmed as officers broke the news to her.

Forensic officers working at the house on Geneva Road, Darlington (Image: Northern Echo)

Footage of the 45-year-old, from inside Durham Police Station, showed her collapse to the ground repeatedly shouting ‘no’.

The court was also shown footage of police interviews carried out by Durham Constabulary following the arrest of Vickers.

The defendant told police that he had drank wine with his partner and had smoked cannabis on the day, saying ‘I have been doing it for thirty years.’

When asked what happened in the kitchen of their home on Geneva Road, he said: “We were chucking grapes at each other. I went to get her and threw the tongs at her but must have picked the knife up.

“It was horseplay – I must be the unluckiest man in the world.”

He added: “She was my only daughter. I don’t even want to be here. I can’t even cry properly.”

Floral tributes outside the Darlington home of Scarlett Vickers (Image: Newsquest)

Vickers told them that the pair were always playfighting and mucking about with each other.

“She gave me a push and I just thought I would get her with the tongs,” he said.

“I just picked them up and chucked them at her. Then all of a sudden, she shouted ‘argh’ and that’s when we saw the blood coming through her pyjamas.”

In the police interview, which lasted more than an hour, he told the officers that he had a good relationship with Scarlett – “she was a good kid. We had a good family life.”

When asked if he needed a break, he replied – ‘I can’t live without her.”

He said: “My hands were covered in blood – I was trying to resuscitate her. I should be home grieving with my partner.”

Jurors had heard how Vickers had given three different versions of events following the death of his only child but maintained that it was accidental.

The defendant had told officers that the pair had been playfighting in the kitchen and he accidentally threw the knife at his daughter he thought he was throwing a spatula.

See more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here

Start 2025 Informed: Get 50% off an annual subscription or enjoy 3 months for just £3 with The Northern Echo. Dive into local news and fulfil your resolution to stay updated. Offer valid until Jan 31st. Click here for details.

Earlier in the trial, pathologist Dr Jennifer Bolton ruled out the potential explanation in her evidence.

She said: “I would say the knife would have to have been held and held tightly so that when it came into contact with Scarlett it didn’t go backwards and went into Scarlett – that would require a tight grip.”

Vickers, who has worked for more than 20 years at 3M in Newton Aycliffe, denies murdering his daughter on July 5 last year.

The trial continues.

Image Credits and Reference: https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/24865609.darlington-dad—i-must-unluckiest-man-world/?ref=rss