UK - Scarlett Vickers (14) stabbed to death at home in Darlington. Parents charged with murder (5 July '24)

[Dotta]

In another development, Sarah Hall's mother, Elaine Hall, has disclosed their intent to challenge the conviction. The 65 year old expressed to MailOnline her conviction that the death of Scarlett was accidental.

The woman stated: "If Sarah thought he had done anything to her, she'd have been out of there," "It's definitely just been an accident because there's no way he would have harmed her."

'Rapid' safeguarding review carried out following death of Scarlett Vickers

Scarlett Vickers was stabbed to death by her father Simon Vickers at the family home in Darlington

www.gazettelive.co.uk

Really?

It smacks of some kind of co-dependency on a toxic partner to me.
Living in denial.

JMO

 

[bobbymkii]

Court listing for Monday's sentencing hearing:

Court 1

[td]

THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE COTTER​

[/td]​

SITTING AT 10:00 am

For Sentence

U20247258

Simon VICKERS 11DD0225624

Defendant to be produced.

 

[Dotta]

"Sentencing begins​

The sentencing of Vickers has now started.
Prosecutor Mark McKone is giving a very brief outline of the case to the court.

He says
in 1993 he was convicted of two years detention for wounding with intent where he slashed someone with a Stanley knife.
Vickers was 19-years-old at the time.

Mr McKone says this was an old conviction.
He says with the murder of Scarlett,
the mitigation includes a 'lack of intent'.
He has also spent 217 days on remand."

Updates as dad jailed for 15 years for murdering teen daughter Scarlett Vickers

Simon Vickers, 50, of Geneva Road, Darlington, was found guilty of the murder of his daughter, Scarlett, 14.

www.chroniclelive.co.uk

 

[Dotta]

"Defence addresses the court​

Nicholas Lumley KC is now addressing the court. He says Vickers knows he brought about the death of his only child by his actions.

He says Sarah Hall remains resolute that the father of her child did not mean Scarlett any harm.
'None of them can believe he is to be known as Scarlett's murderer'.

Mr Lumley says there was a complete absence of planning or premeditation.
'Whatever happened in the kitchen happened in a moment, attempts, however futile, were made to save Scarlett’s life'.
He says that the emergency services were called immediately.

'We submit the remorse is palpable',
Mr Lumley says."

Updates as dad jailed for 15 years for murdering teen daughter Scarlett Vickers

Simon Vickers, 50, of Geneva Road, Darlington, was found guilty of the murder of his daughter, Scarlett, 14.

www.chroniclelive.co.uk

 

[Dotta]

Scarlett's age and location of murder 'seriously aggravating factor'​

Justice Cotter says
the knife was picked up
on the "spur of the moment"
and that the seriously aggravating factor was that Scarlett was 14 years old
and a "child in her own home".

Not sure that alcohol contributed to offence​

Justice Cotter speaks of alcohol and how that may have played a factor.
But he says he is not sure that alcohol contributed to the offence,
which he says was a "flash of anger".

Police and prosecution team praised​

The judge praises the work of the police and prosecution team.
He says such work deserves public recognition.

Updates as dad jailed for 15 years for murdering teen daughter Scarlett Vickers

Simon Vickers, 50, of Geneva Road, Darlington, was found guilty of the murder of his daughter, Scarlett, 14.

www.chroniclelive.co.uk

 

[Dotta]

Only Vickers "knows precisely what happened"​

Vickers "only knows precisely what happened" during that night,
the judge says.
He says the jury found he lied and gave different accounts.

"The jury were sure you intended to cause really serious harm…
it was a devastating act of anger".

Vickers about to be sentenced​

"The clock cannot be turned back.
You must now face the consequences…"

Updates as dad jailed for 15 years for murdering teen daughter Scarlett Vickers

Simon Vickers, 50, of Geneva Road, Darlington, was found guilty of the murder of his daughter, Scarlett, 14.

www.chroniclelive.co.uk

 

[Dotta]

Vickers sentenced to life in prison​

with a minimum term of 15 years.

Updates as dad jailed for 15 years for murdering teen daughter Scarlett Vickers

Simon Vickers, 50, of Geneva Road, Darlington, was found guilty of the murder of his daughter, Scarlett, 14.

www.chroniclelive.co.uk

 

[Sarahlou]

So he got the lowest sentence possible for murder.
Poor Scarlett.

 

[wtiger]

the judges sentencing remarks open the door widely for an appeal against the murder conviction - he more or less states that he finds no premeditation - a vital requirement to prove a murder charge

 

[Sarahlou]

"Sentencing begins​

The sentencing of Vickers has now started.
Prosecutor Mark McKone is giving a very brief outline of the case to the court.

He says
in 1993 he was convicted of two years detention for wounding with intent where he slashed someone with a Stanley knife.
Vickers was 19-years-old at the time.

Mr McKone says this was an old conviction.
He says with the murder of Scarlett,
the mitigation includes a 'lack of intent'.
He has also spent 217 days on remand."

Updates as dad jailed for 15 years for murdering teen daughter Scarlett Vickers

Simon Vickers, 50, of Geneva Road, Darlington, was found guilty of the murder of his daughter, Scarlett, 14.

www.chroniclelive.co.uk

I missed this post when looking at the thread before. So his previous was an attack with a knife too..
He obviously angrily lashed out at Scarlett in the same way.

 

[Tortoise]

the judges sentencing remarks open the door widely for an appeal against the murder conviction - he more or less states that he finds no premeditation - a vital requirement to prove a murder charge

Intent is a requirement, not premeditation, as far as I am aware. Intent can be formed as it's happening.

MOO

 

[Legally Bland]

Intent is a requirement, not premeditation, as far as I am aware. Intent can be formed as it's happening.

MOO

I think that's right:

Murder

Subject to three exceptions (which constitute partial defences to murder, and result in a conviction for manslaughter) the crime of murder is committed, where a person:

• of sound mind and discretion (sane)
• unlawfully kills (not self-defence or other justified killing)
• any reasonable creature (a human being)
• in being (born alive and breathing through its own lungs)
• under the King's Peace (not in wartime)
• with intent to kill or cause grievous bodily harm (in contrast to the offence of attempted murder, where only intent to kill will suffice)

Intent is an ordinary English word. It should not normally be elaborated on or paraphrased. It is different from motive and the prosecution does not have to prove motive, or that grievous bodily harm or death were the outcome wished for. For further consideration where intent might be an issue, see the Judicial College's Crown Court Compendium, Part 1, at 8-1.

The suspect's act must be a substantial cause of the death, not necessarily the sole or principal cause.

Self-defence is as much a defence to murder and manslaughter as to any other offence. Assessing whether there is a realistic prospect of conviction includes an objective assessment of the evidence including the likelihood of this defence being raised and of the prosecution disproving it to the criminal standard. Duress is not available as a defence to murder or attempted murder.

A count of murder on an indictment should refer to the date of death, not the date of the act that caused the death.

Homicide: Murder, manslaughter, infanticide and causing or allowing the death or serious injury of a child or vulnerable adult | The Crown Prosecution Service

www.cps.gov.uk

And the Judge covered intent:

Given that you must have held the knife firmly in your hand, that the stab wound was 11cm deep, and that it was caused with sufficient force for the handle to bruise the surrounding area, the Jury was sure that you had the intention in the moment of stabbing her to causing her really serious harm.

R -v- Simon Vickers - Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Teesside Crown Court 10 February 2025 Before: Mr Justice Cotter Between: R -v- Simon Vickers Sentencing remarks

www.judiciary.uk

 

[Yellowbelly]

Dbm

 

[SusanDonim]

And the Judge covered intent:

Given that you must have held the knife firmly in your hand, that the stab wound was 11cm deep, and that it was caused with sufficient force for the handle to bruise the surrounding area, the Jury was sure that you had the intention in the moment of stabbing her to causing her really serious harm.

R -v- Simon Vickers - Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Teesside Crown Court 10 February 2025 Before: Mr Justice Cotter Between: R -v- Simon Vickers Sentencing remarks

www.judiciary.uk

*snipped and bolded by me for focus*

I had missed that detail - poor Scarlett

 

[Dotta]

Crown Prosecution Service:

"Simon Vickers has been jailed for life with a minimum of 15 years for murdering his daughter Scarlett Vickers.

He claimed it was an accident,
but using forensic medical evidence of her injuries we were able to show this could not be the case.

Our thoughts are with her family."

https://twitter.com/x/status/1888940409813959161

 

[bobbymkii]

 

[wtiger]

i stand by my comment - the sentencing remarks provide a very decent basis to support an appeal

the judge pretty much says that he cannot be sure that killing was his intention

i suppose that only time will tell whether or not i am correct

 

[Mirabel091]

*snipped and bolded by me for focus*

I had missed that detail - poor Scarlett

If it really had been tongs he was holding instead of the knife, that sort of force would also have been likely to badly injure Scarlett, although obviously less severe than stabbing her. Completely over the top for what they described as a play fight.

 

[Tortoise]

i stand by my comment - the sentencing remarks provide a very decent basis to support an appeal

the judge pretty much says that he cannot be sure that killing was his intention

i suppose that only time will tell whether or not i am correct

A murder conviction is based on intent to kill or cause grievous bodily harm. The law on this is in a post above.

 

[jepop]

I missed this post when looking at the thread before. So his previous was an attack with a knife too..
He obviously angrily lashed out at Scarlett in the same way.

I don't agree it's obvious he lashed out in the same way. We don't know anything about this previous conviction at age 19. But the judge knows. He would have carefully considered the circumstances.

The Judge was clear; ."..given the age and lack of relevance " of that conviction, it's not an aggravating factor.

At time stamp beginning around 10:12 /2.12

Post in thread 'UK - Scarlett Vickers (14) stabbed to death at home in Darlington. Parents charged with murder (5 July '24)'

Feb 10, 2025

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