Forensic evidence exposed Simon Vickers’s lie about accidentally stabbing his daughter during a play fight. He was convicted of murder.
Simon said they were play fighting in the kitchen and that he accidentally stabbed her. Scarlett was 14, and he called her “the love of his life.” However, forensic evidence refuted his claim, showing force must have created the wound, making it “practically impossible” otherwise.
The jury deliberated for over 13 hours and convicted him of murder. He received a life sentence with a minimum of 15 years.
July 5th started like any other day. Simon and his partner, Sarah Hall, watched football while drinking wine, and Simon smoked cannabis. They had been together for 27 years.
Scarlett, an only child, threw grapes at her father before the stabbing. Ms. Hall was cooking bolognese at the time, and a scuffle turned into horror.
Scarlett said she was bored, and she and her father started throwing grapes. Simon said he tried to grab her, but she pushed him, so he threw tongs at her. He stated she shouted and fell down, insisting he did not see the knife and claimed he didn’t realize he threw a blade.
Simon then mentioned their trip to Gran Canaria in six weeks. He said they were “mucking about” in the kitchen and claimed to not understand how it happened.
Prosecutors argued the wound wasn’t from a thrown object, believing he held the knife firmly. They said that the wound was too deep to be accidental.
Dr. Jennifer Bolton conducted a post-mortem exam, and the knife was found to have gone between ribs five and six, through her lung and into her heart. She said Scarlett died quickly from blood loss and believed the knife was “held tightly” when it entered Scarlett.
She added this implied a firm grip and braced arm, and when the prosecutor asked about throwing the knife, Dr. Bolton said knives aren’t for throwing. She stated a thrown knife couldn’t travel, hit at 90 degrees, and enter 11cm. Forensic scientist Gemma Escott studied the knife and found evidence it was a stabbing.
Prosecutors admitted Vickers loved Scarlett, and they knew he was “devastated” by her death. However, they asserted that he lied.
Police searched the family’s phones and found no sign of ill treatment. Scarlett’s school had no concerns, and social services weren’t involved.
Vickers told jurors becoming a father was the “best feeling,” as he and Scarlett’s mother tried for years and had suffered a miscarriage. He stated he spoiled her and was wrapped around her finger, he admitted. Ms. Hall described them as “inseparable” and never thought he’d hurt Scarlett.
She said they had a very happy family, and they all loved each other. “Simon treated Scarlett very well,” she stated, adding that he was a very hands-on, loving dad.
She became emotional on the stand, saying Scarlett was her little girl and best friend and that she always came first for both of them. Ms. Hall looked stunned at the verdict, while Vickers showed no emotion. Detective Superintendent Craig Rudd commented on the case.
Scarlett would have turned 16 this year. Her life was cruelly cut short by her own father, who should have protected her.
The motive may never be known, he added, but the verdict won’t bring Scarlett back. Vickers now faces consequences for his actions.
Anna Barker, a crown prosecutor, spoke after the conviction, stating that Simon Vickers’ account did not match forensic evidence, and the wound showed the knife was firmly gripped. They worked with police to piece together the tragedy. Their thoughts are with Scarlett’s family, she said, acknowledging that it must be a difficult time.
Judge Cotter said no evidence showed an unhappy family. Vickers drank over four glasses of wine and had also smoked cannabis that night.
The judge told Vickers that only he knew what truly happened, referring to Scarlett’s fatal wound.