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EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW: The Nottingham Inquiry - “I believe they were murdered"
In June 2023, a series of unthinkable attacks in Nottingham killed three people and left three others seriously injured.
Students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar were fatally stabbed as they walked home from a night out. The attacker then went on to kill school caretaker Ian Coates and steal his van, which was later used to drive into pedestrians in the city centre.
The man responsible, Valdo Calocane, had previously been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. He was later given an indefinite hospital order after admitting manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
Now, a public inquiry is examining whether the tragedy could have been prevented.
In the first episode of this series, Caroline and Ryan speak to Emma Webber, Barnaby’s mother, about the first weeks of the Nottingham Inquiry. She describes the long fight by the families to secure the inquiry, the disturbing evidence emerging about missed opportunities to stop the attacker, and why she and the other families remain determined to push for accountability and meaningful change.
In the second episode of this series, Caroline speaks to former senior police officer David Gilbertson, to discuss what the inquiry has revealed so far; multiple assaults, accounts of stalking and an arrest warrant that went unexecuted for ten months.
We will continue to bring you updates on The Nottingham Inquiry over the coming weeks, over on Trial+
This full episode is available exclusively to Crime Desk subscribers. To find out more, visit https://plus.thecrimedesk.com/
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The Trial series uses actors and some voices generated by AI. Their words are taken as verbatim from the official court transcript.
Click here to sign up to The Crime Desk's weekly newsletter.
It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world.
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Seriously Popular.
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13. The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: “Your worst fears”
39:13||Season 17, Ep. 13In this episode John McGowan-Fazakerley tells the jury how he turned detective to try to piece together what caused his adopted son, Preston Davey, to die. He said he knew now that his trust in Jamie Varley had been misplaced because he hadn't known the extent of the disturbing content on his phone. John McGowan-Fazakerley denied ever abusing or harming Preston - he said the allegations were abhorrent and vile - but he was asked repeatedly why traces of his semen were found on Preston's cot.Subscribe via thecrimedesk.comFollow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrimeEmail us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)Presenter: Caroline Cheetham and Liz HullEditor: Chelsey RanoreCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria Cecchini
12. Update Episode - The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: John McGowan-Fazakerley
19:13||Season 17, Ep. 12In this update episode Caroline and Liz have the moment John McGowan-Fazakerley told his story. As he gave evidence for the first time, he said he and his partner Jamie Varley doted on their son. He also said he'd never seen Jamie Varley hit, punch, kick, poke, prod, smack or bite Preston and he said if he ever suspected his son was his danger, he would have grabbed him and run out of the front door to protect him.Subscribe via thecrimedesk.comFollow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrimeEmail us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)Presenter: Caroline Cheetham and Liz HullActors: Lucy RyanEditor: Chelsey RanoreCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria Cecchini
11. The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: Preston’s “brilliant life”
38:09||Season 17, Ep. 11In this episode Caroline and Liz have the cross-examination of Jamie Varley. He denies the prosecution’s claims that he abused Preston to punish him because he was struggling with being his main carer and resented his partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, for working or being away.He also denies making up a ‘cock and bull story’ about how Preston died to cover his tracks.Instead he tells the jury that, although he made mistakes and was sometimes a little rough with Preston, he loved him and he had a brilliant life.He says he did not cause Preston’s bruises, or sexually abuse or murder him.Subscribe via thecrimedesk.comFollow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrimeEmail us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)Presenter: Caroline Cheetham and Liz HullActors: Benny FiddimoreEditor: Chelsey RanoreCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria Cecchini
10. Update Episode - The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: “Your Plaything”
07:13||Season 17, Ep. 10In this emergency update episode Caroline and Liz have the moment Jamie Varley’s story was picked apart. He was accused by the prosecutor of abusing Preston for his own amusement and gratification, of killing him, and then inventing a “cock and bull” story to cover it up.Subscribe via thecrimedesk.comFollow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrimeEmail us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)Presenter: Caroline Cheetham and Liz HullActors: Benny FiddimoreEditor: Chelsey RanoreCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria Cecchini A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
9. The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: Divided
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8. The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: Jamie Varley
29:14||Season 17, Ep. 8In this episode Jamie Varley tells his story. As the defence case gets underway Jamie Varley entered the witness box to deny abusing or killing Preston Davey. He said he was the safest person in the world for Preston and being a teacher and a daddy was all he ever wanted. He also denied keeping pictures on his phone which were “trophies” of Preston being sexually abused. But he said he accepted looking back that some of the footage was inappropriate.Subscribe via thecrimedesk.comFollow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrimeEmail us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’) Presenter: Caroline Cheetham and Liz HullActors: Sarah Gee, Oliver Sykes, Benny FiddimoreEditor: Chelsey RanoreCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria Cecchini A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
BONUS: The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: "You've killed him Jamie."
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7. The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: “Frozen Watchfulness”
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6. The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: Was Preston bitten and abused?
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