A mum whose 14-year-old daughter was stabbed within the coronary heart by her dad claims she didn’t see how the deadly wound was triggered however advised jurors it will need to have been an accident.
Simon Vickers, 50, denies homicide and manslaughter over the dying of Scarlett Vickers at their house in Darlington, County Durham, final July.
He claims he unwittingly threw a knife at her in a ‘freak accident’ whereas that they had a play-fight within the kitchen, however prosecutors say it will need to have been ‘held firmly’ when the 11cm wound was inflicted.
Scarlett’s mom Sarah Corridor, who had been cooking spaghetti bolognese within the kitchen with them that evening, was emotional at instances as she gave proof in assist of her associate of 27 years.
She stated: ‘We had a really completely happy household life, all of us cherished one another very a lot, we lived in a little bit bubble.
‘Simon handled Scarlett very properly, he was a really hands-on dad, he cherished her very a lot.’
Nicholas Lumley KC, defending Vickers, requested her: ‘Did you have got any issues about his care?’
Ms Corridor replied: ‘No, by no means.’
Mr Lumley requested: ‘Should you had thought he had murdered your daughter, would you continue to be with him?’
She replied: ‘Positively not, she was my primary, she was my greatest good friend, my lady.’
Ms Corridor additionally stated she wouldn’t nonetheless be with Vickers if she believed he had intentionally harmed their solely daughter.
Outlining what occurred that evening, she stated Scarlett had come down from her bed room to speak to them at round 10pm.
They had been having a ‘enjoyable’ dialog about occurring vacation and had been excited, Ms Corridor stated.
She stated that she and her daughter then tried to throw grapes into every others’ mouths, and Vickers joined in.
Ms Corridor advised the court docket she began to snip at Vickers in a playful method with some tongs.
Scarlett advised her father ‘don’t be so wimpy’ when he complained that it harm.
Ms Corridor turned away to begin serving their meal, telling jurors: ‘I used to be conscious they had been nonetheless mucking round.’
She wept as she advised jurors the subsequent factor she remembered was Scarlett saying ‘ow’ and he or she circled to her daughter.
‘She was simply me, I stated “what’s up” after which I noticed blood popping out of her facet.’
Mr Lumley questioned whether or not she had requested her associate what he had carried out to their daughter.
She stated she didn’t, explaining: ‘It could by no means cross my thoughts that he would ever do something to her.’
She added: ‘I don’t know the way it occurred however I do know he would by no means hurt her so it didn’t even enter my head.’
Mr Lumley requested her if she had tried to guard her associate when she was interviewed by police.
‘No, there was nothing to guard,’ she stated.
‘It was an accident. I do know he would by no means hurt her.
‘She was my little lady, she was my greatest good friend, she all the time got here first for the each of us.’
The trial continues.
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