Scarlett Vickers' grandad speaks out for first time as he DEFENDS dad who stabbed teen to death

The household of Scarlet Vickers' begetter Simon, jailed contiguous for beingness with a minimum of 15 years, person stood by the 50-year-old, claiming helium would ne'er person wounded his girl deliberately

Scarlett Vickers’ granddad has defended her begetter arsenic helium was contiguous jailed for her murder, claiming helium would not person intentionally wounded his girl “in a cardinal years”.

The 14-year-old suffered a azygous stab wound that penetrated her chest, which her dada Simon Vickers, 50, claimed was a 'freak accident' during a play combat which went tragically wrong. He was contiguous jailed astatine Teesside Crown Court for beingness with a minimum word of 15 years aft helium was convicted of his daughter’s murder.

In response, Vickers' begetter Barrie said: "He would ne'er successful a cardinal years person wounded her deliberately. Scarlett was his life."

The 78year-old told The Sun: “Simon would person killed himself earlier helium laid 1 digit connected that girl. I'd beryllium the archetypal 1 not to talk to him again had I thought for 1 2nd helium did it. We cognize Simon wouldn't person killed her. We cognize the truth. It was an accident."

Scarlett’s parent Sarah stood by Vickers, her spouse of 27 years, passim his proceedings and said she would not inactive beryllium with him had she believed helium had intentionally harmed their teenage daughter.

Speaking from the witnesser container connected January 21, Sarah gave grounds successful enactment of Vickers, telling the court: “We had a precise blessed household life.

“We each loved each different precise much, and we lived successful a small bubble. Simon treated Scarlett precise well, helium was a precise hands-on dad, helium loved her precise much.”

The tribunal heard however Scarlett came downstairs astatine astir 10.15pm and started throwing grapes. After an speech betwixt begetter and daughter, erstwhile she told her dada not to beryllium "a wimp" erstwhile her parent pinched him with tongs, Vickers asked his girl "how would you similar it?"

Mr Justice Cotter said: “Exactly what past happens lone you know. Scarlett was conscionable 14, a normal, steadfast miss with a agelong beingness up of her erstwhile it was chopped abbreviated by you. She died successful the room of her ain location wrong minutes of having been stabbed.

“It went from an ordinary, blessed household Friday nighttime to calamity wrong seconds owed to what indispensable person been your nonaccomplishment of temper. There is nary different plausible explanation. You person ne'er fixed a truthful mentation of what happened.”

Outside court, Detective Superintendent Craig Rudd of Durham Constabulary said: “We whitethorn ne'er cognize precisely what happened successful that kitchen, but we tin beryllium definite determination is nary justification for what Simon Vickers did.

“Had helium not picked up that weapon Scarlett would inactive beryllium live today. This has been an incredibly heartbreaking lawsuit for everyone progressive and our thoughts stay with those who cared astir Scarlett.”