The mother of a ‘popular and friendly’ 14-year-old girl who was killed with a single stab wound to the chest has been released on bail after she was charged with murder alongside her partner.
Scarlett Vickers was found dead at a property in Geneva Road, Darlington on Friday.
Her parents, Simon Vickers, 48, and Sarah Hall, 44, have been charged with her murder.
The pair made an appearance at Teesside Crown Court via video link from prison earlier today.
Hall’s barrister Paul Rooney put in a request for bail, saying it would allow his client ‘to grieve the death of her daughter, surrounded by family and friends’.
He added: ‘For her to remain in custody, may be considered to be cruel and unjust, and I urge compassion for a mum who has lost her daughter and is struggling.’
Su Gill, the Principal of Haughton Academy where Scarlett was a pupil, said: ‘Scarlett was a lovely girl with a great sense of humour. She was always immaculately turned out, respectful and polite.
‘A very friendly girl, she was popular with her friends and will be greatly missed by the school community.
‘The staff and students at Haughton Academy and the Education Village Academy Trust are extremely saddened by the news and would like to pass on our thoughts to everyone affected by this tragedy.
‘The Trust is working hard to support pupils and staff through this very difficult time.’
A neighbour said: ‘Scarlett was full of life and she was always out with her friends like a normal 14-year-old girl.’
One pal wrote online: ‘Horrible world we live in, she was such a good friend to everyone and made me laugh all the time.’
Georgia Snowdon, representing Hall, said no representations would be made at the hearing but said her client was ‘absolutely distraught’.
After the charges were announced, senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Craig Rudd, of Durham Police, said: ‘This incident has resulted in the tragic death of a young girl, and our thoughts are with her family and friends.
‘I would like to thank the local community for their patience and co-operation while investigative work is still being carried out at the scene, and to reassure residents that we believe this to be an isolated incident.’
Emergency services rushed to the scene just after 11pm but despite their efforts, Scarlett could not be saved.
Sarah Kemp, prosecuting, said in a court appearance on Monday: ‘This incident occurred at the back end of last week which brings these two defendants before you.
‘There was an incident within their home address which resulted in the fatal stabbing of Scarlett, the 14-year-old daughter of both defendants.’
Ms Kemp said the single wound penetrated Scarlett’s chest.
Scarlett’s father will remain in custody, and he and Hall will return to the court for a plea hearing on August 5.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE : Man and woman charged with murder after girl, 14, found dead in house
MORE : Otter caught on CCTV breaking into garden centre and eating £10,000 of koi carp
MORE : The unsolved murder of a Scottish mum-of-three which left police baffled
Share this with