A mother supports the freedom of her daughter’s killer. She claims the stabbing was accidental, seeking appeal.
Sarah Hall, his partner, defends him. They were together for 27 years and she wants his murder sentence overturned. She says they both need to grieve and asks how she could blame him. Hall believes Vickers is suffering too, and they want to remember Scarlett together.
Hall disputes evidence about the knife’s grip and desires an appeal to free him. However, his sentence may increase as the Solicitor General wants a longer term, believing the current 15-year minimum is too lenient.
Hall has returned to their Darlington home for the first time since Scarlett’s death. The tragedy happened on July 5, 2024. The family called Fridays “happy.”
Vickers killed Scarlett in their small kitchen. Hall said they were just messing around, but the judge called it anger, which Hall finds absurd. She does not understand the jury’s conclusion.
Hall insists Vickers would never hurt Scarlett and believes it was an accident. She would have protected Scarlett, and so would he. Hall also thinks the trial was unfair.
Vickers didn’t plead guilty to manslaughter because he wanted to show he would never harm her. The case focused on a few seconds, and there was drinking and cannabis use that night.
They were cooking at 10 PM when Scarlett joined them from her room. Play fighting then started between them all, and Vickers spun around after Hall pinched him.
Prosecutors claim Vickers grabbed a knife and thrust it into Scarlett’s chest. Hall says he swiped tongs, hitting the knife. Scarlett moved forward as the knife slid.
The blade entered her chest. Hall remembers Scarlett saying “ow.” She turned and saw blood, so she got a towel to stop it. Vickers told her to call for help.
It felt like forever to Hall for an ambulance to arrive. Hall and Vickers performed CPR. Police then arrived and arrested them both, and they were charged with attempted murder.
At the station, Hall learned of Scarlett’s death. She sobbed and cried for her. She was given a sedative in a cell and remembered her daughter’s vibrant personality.
Hall and Vickers were charged with murder, but charges against Hall were dropped later. Vickers was tried in January for murder and manslaughter.
The jury found him guilty of murder after ten days. The judge said it was a moment of devastating anger. It ruined lives, stealing one precious life, and he must face the law’s consequences.