A safeguarding review was initiated after Scarlett Vickers, 14, was murdered by her father, Simon Vickers, who claimed it was an accident during a playfight.
During the trial, Simon Vickers said it was a freak accident during a playfight. But experts disagreed, saying the stab wound couldn’t have been accidental. A jury found him guilty of murder.
The trial revealed no motive or family issues before the tragedy. Scarlett’s mom, Sarah Hall, supported Simon in court, saying he would never harm her.
Darlington Borough Council confirmed the review aimed to find lessons from Scarlett’s death. They decided a full Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review wasn’t needed, as there were no key issues to explore.
On the day Scarlett died, Simon and Sarah watched a football game. Simon had been drinking and smoking cannabis. He claimed he didn’t mean to grab the knife, thinking he was just playing with kitchen tongs.
Simon Vickers, from Geneva Road in Darlington, will be sentenced on February 10. Scarlett’s family plans to appeal the conviction, believing her death was an accident.
