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| Mum believes daughter's stabbing was an accident | Mum believes daughter's stabbing was an accident |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Scarlett Vickers was 14 years old when she was allegedly murdered by her father | Scarlett Vickers was 14 years old when she was allegedly murdered by her father |
| A woman whose 14-year-old daughter was allegedly murdered during a kitchen play-fight with her father believes the stabbing was an accident, a court has heard. | A woman whose 14-year-old daughter was allegedly murdered during a kitchen play-fight with her father believes the stabbing was an accident, a court has heard. |
| Scarlett Vickers suffered a 4in-deep (11cm) wound to her chest and "bled to death" at her family home in Darlington in July, Teesside Crown Court was told. | Scarlett Vickers suffered a 4in-deep (11cm) wound to her chest and "bled to death" at her family home in Darlington in July, Teesside Crown Court was told. |
| Her father Simon Vickers denies murder and manslaughter and has said it was a "freak accident" while the two were "mucking about". | Her father Simon Vickers denies murder and manslaughter and has said it was a "freak accident" while the two were "mucking about". |
| Scarlett's mother Sarah Hall said they were a loving, happy family and she was still with Mr Vickers, her partner of 27 years, as she did not believe he had deliberately harmed their daughter. | |
| The court has heard the family of three were throwing grapes at each other in the kitchen of their Geneva Road home on the evening of 5 July when Scarlett was stabbed. | The court has heard the family of three were throwing grapes at each other in the kitchen of their Geneva Road home on the evening of 5 July when Scarlett was stabbed. |
| 'Family bubble' | 'Family bubble' |
| Mr Vickers claimed he "swiped" a pair of tongs towards his daughter but had not realised there was a knife next to them which caused the fatal injury, although he accepted being responsible for the wound. | Mr Vickers claimed he "swiped" a pair of tongs towards his daughter but had not realised there was a knife next to them which caused the fatal injury, although he accepted being responsible for the wound. |
| A pathologist has said it was "practically impossible" for the wound to be caused by a thrown blade but rather the knife was being firmly held in someone's hand, which Mr Vickers vehemently denies. | A pathologist has said it was "practically impossible" for the wound to be caused by a thrown blade but rather the knife was being firmly held in someone's hand, which Mr Vickers vehemently denies. |
| He previously told the court he may have knocked the knife so it got stuck against a hot plate and was jutting out over the counter, with Scarlett running on to the blade while chasing him. | He previously told the court he may have knocked the knife so it got stuck against a hot plate and was jutting out over the counter, with Scarlett running on to the blade while chasing him. |
| Under questioning from Mr Vickers' barrister Nicholas Lumley KC, Ms Hall said they had a "very happy family life" and they lived in a "bubble", adding: "We all loved each other very much." | Under questioning from Mr Vickers' barrister Nicholas Lumley KC, Ms Hall said they had a "very happy family life" and they lived in a "bubble", adding: "We all loved each other very much." |
| She said Mr Vickers was a doting and "very hands-on" dad who treated Scarlett "very well" and "loved her very much". | She said Mr Vickers was a doting and "very hands-on" dad who treated Scarlett "very well" and "loved her very much". |
| Ms Hall said she was still in a relationship with Mr Vickers. | Ms Hall said she was still in a relationship with Mr Vickers. |
| "If you thought he murdered your daughter, would you still be with him?" Mr Lumley asked. | "If you thought he murdered your daughter, would you still be with him?" Mr Lumley asked. |
| Ms Hall replied: "Definitely not, she was my number one, my best friend, my little girl." | Ms Hall replied: "Definitely not, she was my number one, my best friend, my little girl." |
| Scarlett died at her home on Geneva Road in Darlington in July | Scarlett died at her home on Geneva Road in Darlington in July |
| She said they had all been in a "happy" mood on 5 July and were looking forward to a holiday in Gran Canaria together. | |
| Ms Hall said the family had started throwing grapes at each other in the kitchen as she was making a spaghetti Bolognese, but it was all just "playing" and "fun". | |
| She had got a knife out to cut garlic bread and placed it near some tongs, the court heard. | She had got a knife out to cut garlic bread and placed it near some tongs, the court heard. |
| Ms Hall had her back turned when she suddenly heard her daughter say "ow", the court heard. | Ms Hall had her back turned when she suddenly heard her daughter say "ow", the court heard. |
| She turned to face Scarlett and saw blood pouring out of her daughter's side, which she tried to stem with a tea towel. | She turned to face Scarlett and saw blood pouring out of her daughter's side, which she tried to stem with a tea towel. |
| 'He'd never harm her' | 'He'd never harm her' |
| Ms Hall said she did not know how Scarlett was injured and "made an assumption" the knife had been thrown with the other utensil. | Ms Hall said she did not know how Scarlett was injured and "made an assumption" the knife had been thrown with the other utensil. |
| She said she did not think her partner could be responsible, adding: "It did not even cross my mind he would do anything to her. | She said she did not think her partner could be responsible, adding: "It did not even cross my mind he would do anything to her. |
| "I know he would never harm her so it didn't even enter my head." | "I know he would never harm her so it didn't even enter my head." |
| Asked if she was trying to "protect" Mr Vickers with her testimony, Ms Hall replied: "No, there is nothing to protect. | Asked if she was trying to "protect" Mr Vickers with her testimony, Ms Hall replied: "No, there is nothing to protect. |
| "It was an accident, I know he would never harm her. She always came first for the both of us." | "It was an accident, I know he would never harm her. She always came first for the both of us." |
| The court has heard Ms Hall told paramedics Mr Vickers and Scarlett had been "chucking" knives around, but she told jurors she was in a state of shock and "couldn't understand what was happening" when she allegedly made those comments. | The court has heard Ms Hall told paramedics Mr Vickers and Scarlett had been "chucking" knives around, but she told jurors she was in a state of shock and "couldn't understand what was happening" when she allegedly made those comments. |
| "I don't think I was thinking straight," Ms Hall told the court. | "I don't think I was thinking straight," Ms Hall told the court. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
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