Summary
Simon Vickers, 50, is on trial for the fatal stabbing of his 14-year-old daughter, Scarlett Vickers, during a kitchen play-fight at their Darlington home in July.
The court heard the family was throwing food and utensils while making dinner, and Vickers claims Scarlett accidentally impaled herself on a knife he was holding.
Prosecutors argue the wound was too deep to be accidental, alleging deliberate action.
Vickers denies murder and manslaughter, describing the incident as a tragic accident.
Vickers denies murder and manslaughter, describing the incident as a tragic accident.
I mean, isn’t killing someone accidentally while doing dangerous things the very definition of manslaughter?
It can be - but doesn’t have to be. It would depend on a lot of things including how reckless or negligent he was for example. And whether the local law considers “negligence” to be a factor in manslaughter or whether it’s considered to be “reckless endangerment” or something like that.
A paramedic overheard Ms Hall saying Scarlett and her father were “play-fighting and chucking knives at each other”, Mr McKone said.
In this case however… That’s pretty damn negligent.
edit:
When asked if he was responsible for causing his daughter’s death, Mr Vickers replied “I must be”, the court heard.
As stupid as he was - this is pretty heart breaking…
As a father, that last bit doesnt ring as an admission of guilt as much as it does that hes experiencing self reproach. Hes not going to blame his daughter, so the only option left in his mind is that its his fault
Yes, I think you’re right. Looking at the news article I’d imagine it’d be Involuntary manslaughter. , unless they can find evidence that the father had a reason to kill her.
Manslaughter may be either voluntary or involuntary, depending on whether the accused has the required mens rea for murder.
Involuntary manslaughter arises where the accused did not intend to cause death or serious injury but caused the death of another through recklessness or criminal negligence. For these purposes, recklessness is defined as a blatant disregard for the dangers of a particular situation..
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manslaughter_in_English_law#Involuntary_manslaughter.
Whilst throwing a spatula at someone is unlikely to cause harm (and I’d argue, is not reckless) throwing items around or play fighting in the kitchen could be seen as risky.
Ms Hall said she had got a kitchen knife out to cut garlic bread and Mr Vickers had inadvertently grabbed it while reaching for a spatula to throw, the court heard.
Just because we have chiseled abs and stunning features, it doesn’t mean that we too can’t not die in a freak gasoline fight accident.
Why does the article first say he said he was holding the knife and his daughter lunged at him then later he says he threw what he thought were tongs over his shoulder behind him but it turned out to be the knife?
The article also says he gave multiple stories.
Reminds me of the idiot cop who shot a man with her service weapon while shouting 'Taser!".
Is that the same police officer who unloaded an entire clip into a teen’s abdomen repeatedly firing her handgun, pulling the trigger because she thought her taser wasn’t deploying?
Because he doesn’t want to go to jail.
