Simon Vickers stabbed his daughter, Scarlett, to death (Image: Durham Constabulary)
An evil dad uttered five chilling words before stabbing his 14-year-old daughter to death in a “flash of anger”.
Simon Vickers, 50, from Darlington, County Durham, gave differing versions of what happened the night he in the kitchen of their family home.
Scarlett’s mum, Sarah Hall, was the only other person in the kitchen at the time and she stood by her partner of 27 years, telling jurors at the murder trial that Vickers loved their only child and would never harm her.
Teesside Crown Court heard Ms Hall was making spaghetti Bolognese on the evening of July 5 when she and her daughter started to throw grapes at each other in fun.
Ms Hall grabbed some tongs and snipped at her partner and when he complained he had been hurt, Scarlett implied her dad was being “wimpy”. Vickers then asked his daughter in five words: “How would you like it?”
Scarlett Vickers was killed by her dad (Image: Durham Constabulary)
Mr Justice Cotter, sentencing Vickers to life with a minimum of 15 years, told him: “Simon Vickers, only you know precisely what happened in that kitchen on that Friday evening which led to you fatally stabbing your only daughter in what should have been the safety of her own home.
“It was a momentary but devastating act of anger. It stole one young, precious life, ruined your life, your wife’s life and Scarlett’s relatives and friends.
“The clock cannot be turned back and you must now face the consequences that the law intends.”
The sentencing on Monday (February 10) came after jurors convicted Vickers by a majority of 10-2 following a trial last month.
Mr Justice Cotter said the version of events Vickers told the jury – that he had accidentally swiped the knife across the work surface and into his daughter’s chest without realising – was “unconvincing and wholly implausible”.
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Scarlett suffered catastrophic blood loss after her dad stabbed her with this knife (Image: Durham Constabulary)
He said: “You have never accepted exactly what happened, although you have accepted it was your actions that caused her death. Your beloved daughter deserved that you told the truth, you have not done so.”
The judge said the offence was aggravated because Scarlett was a child who should have been safe in her own home.
He added: “Scarlett was just 14, a normal, healthy woman with a long life ahead of her when it was cut short by you. She died in the kitchen of her own home within minutes of having been stabbed.
“It went from an ordinary, happy family Friday night to tragedy within seconds due to what must have been your loss of temper. There is no other plausible explanation. You have never given a truthful explanation of what happened.”
Vickers had drunk wine and smoked cannabis that night but the judge said he was not sure alcohol had contributed to the offence, which he was convinced was caused by “a flash of anger”.
Mark McKone KC prosecuting, said Vickers had a previous conviction in 1993, when he was 19, for wounding with intent when he slashed a man in the face with a Stanley knife.
Nicholas Lumley KC, defending, said: “Each of those left behind by Scarlett have been left serving life sentences of their own from which none of them will ever be free.”
He added: “Sarah Hall (Scarlett’s mother) remains resolute in her belief that the father of her only child did not intend Scarlett any harm and his parents are of the same view. None can believe that he will now be known as Scarlett’s murderer.”
At the trial, Ms Hall said during the play-fighting she had turned away to serve dinner then heard Scarlett say, “Ow”. She said she immediately saw their only child was pouring with blood.
Ms Hall made a 999 call, telling the operator they had been “messing about” and her partner had thrown something at their daughter “and he didn’t realise”.
Vickers told a paramedic his daughter had lunged towards him during a bout of play-fighting, the court heard. Scarlett bled to death at the scene.
Outside court, Det Supt Craig Rudd said: “We may never know precisely what happened in that kitchen, but we can be certain there is no justification for what Simon Vickers did.
“Had he not picked up that knife, Scarlett would still be alive today. This has been an incredibly heart-breaking case for everyone involved and our thoughts remain with those who cared about Scarlett.”