Father's 'playful' throw of knife killed daughter, 14, court told

A father accused of stabbing to death his 14-year-old daughter in the family kitchen told police they were "just mucking around" throwing objects at each other while cooking tea, a court has heard.

- Mark Brown

Simon Vickers, 50, is standing trial at Teesside crown court in Middlesbrough accused of the murder or manslaughter of his daughter Scarlett Vickers. He denies both charges.

Mark McKone KC, prosecuting, said paramedics were called to the family home in Darlington where they found her on the kitchen floor with a stab wound. "Scarlett bled to death in her own home," he said.

McKone said a 999 call was made on 5 July last year by Scarlett's mother Sarah Hall who told the operator her partner had thrown something at their daughter "and he didn't realise".