The heartbroken mum of Scarlett Vickers still cannot face living in the family home, a year after the tragedy.

Simon Vickers, 50, was jailed for life for the murder of Scarlett Vickers. The 14-year-old was killed by a 11cm (4in) knife blow to the heart during what he said was "horseplay" in the kitchen as her mum Sarah Hall prepared an evening meal. Sarah had her back to Simon as the fatal blow was struck; a jury found him guilty of murder.

Scarlett died on July 5 last year, and her mum has still not returned to live in the family home in Darlington, Co Durham. Instead, she stays with Simon's parents Barrie, 78, and Pat nearby as her partner of 27 years serves a minimum term of 15 years.

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Scarlett's aunt, Sarah's sister Rebecca Hall, 42, of Newton Aycliffe, Co Durham, said Sarah was "going back and forth" to the family home, adding: "She is staying with Simon's parents."

The factory worker was convicted by a jury which heard expert evidence at his trial. Home Office forensic pathologist Dr Jennifer Bolton said the knife went through Scarlett's lung and into the left ventricle of her heart, causing fatal blood loss.

Dr Bolton said it was her opinion that the knife was being "held tightly", and that it would be "practically impossible" for the fatal injury to have been caused by throwing it, one of the possible versions of events put before the jury.

After a 10 day trial, in majority verdict, they found Simon guilty of murder. Sentencing him in February, trial Judge Mr Justice Cotter said: “It was a momentary but devastating act of anger."

But his supporters are looking to get another pathologist to examine the report into Scarlett's injuries. Prosecutors claimed Simon picked up the kitchen knife and thrust it into Scarlett''s chest between her fifth and sixth ribs, the blade going 4in (11cms) into her chest cavity and piercing her heart.

The family say he accidentally swiped kitchen tongs along the counter towards Scarlett, but also caught the kitchen knife. They are looking for another expert who could support an appeal against his sentence.

Simon, who turns 51 next week, is being held in Gartree prison in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, around 174 miles from his family in Co Durham.

Sarah, 44, remains adamant that he is innocent of murder and would like to see his life sentence overturned. She described her ordeal as a "never ending nightmare". "I don't think we've ever come out of shock," she said.