Father Who Stabbed His 14-Year-Old Daughter to Death During Kitchen ‘Play Fight’ Convicted of Her Murder

Simon Vickers, 50, was convicted of murdering his teenage daughter Scarlett at a U.K. court on Monday, Jan. 27

• A British father has been found guilty of murdering his 14-year-old daughter after previously claiming he mistakenly stabbed her while they were play-fighting in the kitchen
• Simon Vickers was convicted at Teesside Crown Court in the U.K. on Monday, Jan. 27, following his daughter Scarlett's death on July 5, 2024
• Vickers, 50, will be sentenced on Feb. 10, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed

A British father who claimed he accidentally stabbed his teenage daughter to death while they were play-fighting has been found guilty of murder.

On Monday, Jan. 27, Simon Vickers, 50, was convicted of murdering his 14-year-old daughter Scarlett Vickers at Teesside Crown Court in Northern England, according to a release by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which handles all public prosecutions in England and Wales.

The news comes after a court heard earlier this month that Vickers had denied causing the death of his daughter, who was fatally stabbed in the chest on July 5, 2024. At the time he insisted they were just "messing around together in the kitchen, in a normal playful way," Sky News previously reported.

"Vickers had claimed that the pair had been play-fighting and jokingly throwing items at each other while cooking before he mistakenly swiped a kitchen knife which then hit Scarlett," the CPS said in Monday's release.

"After his partner called for an ambulance, paramedics attended the address and found Scarlett on the floor of the kitchen with a severe stab wound to the chest. Despite their efforts, Scarlett tragically died from her injuries a short time later," the release added.

According to the BBC, a pathologist told the court that it was "practically impossible" for the 4-inch deep stab wound that Scarlett suffered to have been caused by a knife in a play-fighting situation.

Forensic pathologist Jennifer Bolton concluded that Scarlett's fatal injury must have been inflicted by a blade being firmly held and the kitchen knife would have had to strike Scarlett at a 90-degree angle to pass through her pajama top in the way it did, according to the outlet.

Durham Constabulary said in a news release, "The exact circumstances surrounding what happened next may never be known but at about 10:45 p.m. [local time] Vickers stabbed Scarlett with a kitchen knife," adding that he "had been drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis throughout the evening."

Scarlett's mother, Sarah Hall, "was arrested at the time of the incident and later charged with murder. However, the charge was later dropped, and she has faced no further action," police added in the release.

Anna Barker, a senior crown prosecutor with CPS North East, added, per the CPS release, “The account provided by Simon Vickers about how his daughter, Scarlett, sustained a fatal injury is wholly inconsistent with the forensic evidence in this case."

“As part of our case against him, the Crown Prosecution Service instructed a medical expert, whose analysis made it clear that the nature of the wound sustained by Scarlett could only have been caused if the knife used had been firmly gripped as she was injured,” Barker said.

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“We have worked closely with Durham Police to meticulously piece together the tragic events which led to Scarlett’s death. Our thoughts remain with her family, for who this must remain a difficult time,” the prosecutor continued.

Durham Constabulary detective superintendent, Craig Rudd, added in the police release, “Scarlett Vickers would have celebrated her 16th birthday this year. She had her whole life ahead of her."

“Yet it was cruelly cut short by her own father — a man who was meant to protect her," he said.

“Sadly, today’s verdict will not bring Scarlett back, but he will now face the consequences of his actions," Rudd added. “Our thoughts remain with those who cared about Scarlett."

Mr. Vickers will be sentenced at Teesside Crown Court on Feb. 10, the CPS confirmed in the news release. Durham Constabulary did not immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional comments.