Mum of girl, 14, murdered by her dad ‘is standing by him’ and believes his claim it was a ‘playfight gone wrong’

THE mum of a 14-year-old schoolgirl murdered by her begetter who claimed helium was "play-fighting" with her says she is lasting by him.

Scarlett Vickers suffered catastrophic humor nonaccomplishment aft a leaf was plunged 11cm into her thorax and pierced her heart.

On Monday, her dada Simon Vickers, 50, was recovered blameworthy of murdering his teen girl astatine their location successful Darlington, Co Durham, connected July 5.

The monster, who had been drinking vino and smoking cannabis, claimed helium and Scarlett were conscionable "messing about" erstwhile helium accidentally threw the leaf astatine her.

He claimed Scarlett died successful a "freak accident" during a play-fight successful the kitchen, telling police: "I indispensable beryllium the unluckiest antheral successful the world".

Now, it has been revealed that the victim's mum, 44-year-old Sarah Hall, has taken his basal contempt Teesside Crown Court's verdict.

"Scarlett was their lone child. They doted connected her," Sarah's mum, Elaine Hall, told MailOnline.

"If Sarah thought helium had done thing to her, she’d person been retired of there.

"It’s decidedly conscionable been an mishap due to the fact that there’s nary mode helium would person harmed her."

"She’s mislaid her girl and present she hasn’t got Simon to thin on.

"We've talked to each different implicit the telephone but astatine the moment, I deliberation she's excessively upset to accidental anything."

After his arrest, Vickers told police: "That was it. We were horse-playing.

"I indispensable beryllium the unluckiest antheral successful the world."

Chilling footage besides showed him being booked into the custody suite moaning astir an upcoming holiday.

He tells officers: "I conscionable privation to cognize however my daughter's doing. 

"We were mucking about, playing successful the kitchen, and for immoderate crushed this has gone truly weird. 

"Please idiosyncratic archer me. What's going on? We are going connected vacation to f***ing Gran Canaria successful six weeks. F***ing hell. I don't judge this is happening.

"I don't recognize however this has happened. Honestly."

Vickers claimed the playfight started erstwhile helium and Scarlett began throwing grapes astatine each different portion mum Sarah Hall made dinner.

He said helium went to "try and get her" but his girl tried to propulsion him distant truthful helium grabbed the tongs and chucked them.

But prosecutor Mark McKone KC said Vickers indispensable person stabbed his girl "deliberately with the knife".

Detective Superintendent Craig Rudd, who led the probe for Durham Constabulary, said: “Scarlett Vickers would person celebrated her 16th day this year. She had her full beingness up of her.

“Yet it was cruelly chopped abbreviated by her ain begetter – a antheral who was meant to support her.

“We whitethorn ne'er cognize wherefore oregon what caused Simon Vickers to bash what helium did that night.

“Sadly, today’s verdict volition not bring Scarlett back, but helium volition present look the consequences of his actions.

“I would similar to convey my probe squad for their tireless efforts successful getting justness for Scarlett and the assemblage for their practice and knowing portion we carried retired our enquiries.

“Our thoughts stay with those who cared astir Scarlett.”