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The Trial
The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: A “Sinister Tragedy”
In this episode Caroline and Liz have the start of a brand new trial and a new series. The tragic death of a baby boy called Preston Davey is at the centre of this trial. Did the two men who adopted him abuse him? And did one of those men murder him? Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley deny harming Preston and in this opening episode we have the details of what they’ve been accused of.
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Presenter: Caroline Cheetham and Liz Hull
Actor: Ollie Sykes
Editor: Chelsey Ranore
Producer: Chelsey Ranore
Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham
Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini
A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
The Trial series uses actors and some voices generated by AI. Their words are taken as verbatim from the official court transcript.
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18. The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: Getting Behind the Trial
39:33||Season 17, Ep. 18In this special episode Caroline and Liz get behind the trial of Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley. We’ve got an insight into the police investigation and the questions which now need to be asked and answered. We also gain an insight into the mind of a man like Jamie Varley from expert Criminologist and former Prison Governor, Professor David Wilson. And we have the emotional words of Preston’s birth mum, Sarah, who says her son was failed by the very people trusted to take care of him.The Trial UK is part of the Crime Desk. Subscribe today for ad-free listening, full access to all our shows, early access to new shows, and bonus episodes. Visit https://plus.thecrimedesk.com/the-crime-desk-preston-davey for more information.Follow us on Tiktok @DailyMailCrimeFollow us on instagram @TheTrialPodSubscribe to our YouTube channel @TheCrimeDeskClick 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. Email us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsapp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)Presenters: Caroline Cheetham and Liz HullProducer: Chelsey MooreCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniA Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
17. The Tragic Life of Preston Davey: The Day of Reckoning
48:21||Season 17, Ep. 17A teacher, a head of year, a safeguarding lead will never be released from prison. A judge today decided Jamie Varley’s crimes against Preston Davey were so sinister, so depraved, so relentlessly evil that he should never be free. In this episode, Caroline and Liz have all the details from an emotional day in court, including the words of Preston’s foster carers Sandra and Paul Cooper and his mum Sarah Davey. But as Jamie Varley and John McGowan Fazakerley were told about the devastation caused by their crimes they did not flinch. The Trial UK is part of the Crime Desk. Subscribe today for ad-free listening, full access to all our shows, early access to new shows, and bonus episodes. Visit https://plus.thecrimedesk.com/the-crime-desk-preston-davey for more information.Follow us on Tiktok @DailyMailCrimeFollow us on instagram @TheTrialPodSubscribe to our YouTube channel @TheCrimeDeskClick 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. Email us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsapp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)Presenters: Caroline Cheetham and Liz HullProducer: Sam MorrisCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniA Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
16. The Tragic Life of Preston Davey: The Verdicts
55:41||Season 17, Ep. 16Preston Davey was the victim of two sinister and wicked men, who “chose” him from an adoption website - then they both abused him and one of them murdered him. That’s what a jury have now decided. Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerly denied to the bitter end that they mistreated him, but the jury didn’t believe them. Today Caroline and Liz have got those verdicts in full and what happened as they were delivered - plus we can now bring you many of the details we haven’t been able to share up to now. Trigger warning - the details in this episode are distressing and relate to child abuse.The Trial is part of The Crime Desk. Subscribe today for ad-free listening, early access to new shows, exclusive bonus episodes and complete access to our true-crime podcast collection. Visit thecrimedesk.com for more information.
15. The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: The Jury
24:30||Season 17, Ep. 15The fate of Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley is now in the hands of the jury. As this trial comes to an end Caroline and Liz have the final arguments, the final pleas and the final instructions to the jury. The decisions on the guilt or innocence of the two men on trial is now up to them.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 Fiddimore and Lucy RyanEditor: Chelsey RanoreCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria Cecchini
14. The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: “A Tragedy Waiting to Happen”
31:49||Season 17, Ep. 14Preston Davey was in “peril at the hands of Jamie Varley” and John McGowan Fazakerly knew it - that’s what Peter Wright KC told the jury in this episode of the podcast with Caroline and Liz. As he closed his case, the prosecutor said Preston’s death was a “tragedy waiting to happen” - he said Jamie Varley had a sexual interest in children and he subjected Preston to a “litany of physical and psychological abuse” - and John McGowan Fazakerly could have foreseen what would happen. The danger Preston was in, Mr Wright said, was “blindingly obvious”. 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
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.