Simon Vickers murdered his daughter, Scarlett. He gave false accounts, leading to a life sentence with 15 years served.
The judge told Vickers he must serve at least 15 years; his full life sentence will be spent partly on license. This sentence was for murdering his 14-year-old daughter.
The judge spoke at Teesside Crown Court during sentencing, saying Scarlett’s life ended far too soon, going from a happy night to tragedy quickly. The judge believed Vickers lost his temper that night.
The judge stated that Vickers never told the truth. Scarlett lived with her parents, Simon and Sarah, and they seemed like a normally loving family.
That Friday, Vickers drank wine and smoked cannabis after work. Scarlett came home and went to her bedroom. He watched football and then joined Sarah as she cooked dinner.
Scarlett came downstairs around 10:15 p.m. She joined them in the small kitchen, and Scarlett and her mom were throwing grapes. Vickers made them stop the game, and Sarah pinched Vickers with tongs.
As he turned, the tongs touched his finger, and Scarlett called him a wimp. Sarah continued cooking with her back turned. After that, only Vickers knows what really occurred.
Scarlett then said “ow, ow” and Sarah turned and saw Scarlett injured. The judge thinks Vickers removed the knife after stabbing her, as Sarah could not have missed it otherwise. The knife was later on the counter for paramedics, and Vickers held the knife before, during, and after.
Scarlett died from a stab wound to her chest’s left side. The knife went between her ribs and into her heart. The wound was about 11 centimeters deep, going through her nightgown, top, and bra. This was a strong, forceful stab, and the blood loss from the heart caused her death.
Vickers had to be close to her to stab her, stabbing a protected part of her chest. Scarlett stood near the back door, then collapsed. Sarah saw panic on both their faces.
Sarah called 999 immediately. Paramedics soon arrived at 10:50 p.m., and police also came. An officer saw paramedics performing CPR and asked them to go to the living room.
Vickers said, “We were mucking about,” and the officer thought he was very drunk. Another officer also thought he was intoxicated then, and the judge felt Vickers was affected by alcohol.
The judge could not know how much drugs affected the crime, stating that alcohol likely played a part. He judged that the crime happened in a flash of anger.
Scarlett passed away at 11:50 p.m. Vickers gave multiple different explanations, claiming the stabbing was an accident. He stated they were throwing knives, then he said he threw a spatula or tongs. Another version said Scarlett lunged at the knife, and finally, he said he swiped the tongs on the counter.
He told the jury tongs flew up, and he never saw a knife. He said Sarah cut onions using a knife, but a pathologist proved this was false. Vickers stabbed her, and his arm needed to be braced for the action.
Vickers admitted his actions led to Scarlett’s death, but he never explained those actions. She deserved the truth, and he did not provide it.
The starting point for his sentence was 15 years. The knife was already in the kitchen, and it wasn’t brought to the scene. The judge considered aggravating and mitigating factors.
Scarlett was 14, a child in her own home, which is a serious factor. Their relationship had trust and security, and the crime broke that trust. Committing crimes against children is serious, which increased his sentence.
Vickers had past convictions; in 1993, he wounded a man with a knife and served two years detention. He also had minor theft convictions, but these old convictions did not change the sentence.
Vickers was likely affected by alcohol, but the judge could not be sure it contributed. It was a quick act of anger, not planned.
The judge accepted Vickers was devastated, having lost his only child, and he will always live with it. The act was a moment of anger, and he did not plan it. The judge sentenced him for intending to cause serious harm.
Vickers received a life sentence. He must serve at least 15 years, and he will then be eligible for parole.