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The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: The Phone Footage
In this episode Caroline and Liz have the latest in the case of Preston Davey - a baby the prosecution say was abused and murdered after he was adopted by two men - Jamie Varley and John McGowan Fazakerly. Today we’ve got evidence of the videos and pictures from Jamie Varley’s mobile phone. In many of them Preston is naked and in some Jamie Varley appears to be naked too. The prosecution say the jury will have to decide if they are cruel and indecent. We’ve also got the evidence from Jamie Varley’s colleagues who say he gave different accounts of how Preston broke his arm in the weeks before he died. And we hear that at one point the hospital did report some of Preston’s injuries to the police but no investigation was launched.
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Presenter: Caroline Cheetham and Liz Hull
Producer: Chelsey Ranore
Editor: 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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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
31:20||Season 17, Ep. 9In this episode Caroline and Liz have more of the evidence from Jamie Varley as he continues to give evidence in his own defence. He told the jury he didn’t agree with the medical evidence that Preston died because his airway was deliberately obstructed. He also said he didn’t lie to his partner, John McGowan Fazakerley, about what happened on the day Preston died. He also said the couple hadn’t been given time to grieve the loss of their son. 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 A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
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."
15:28||Season 17In this extra episode Caroline and Liz have the moment Jamie Varley is faced with the extent of the allegations against him - and his reaction to them. He tells detective they are wrong that he sexually abused and murdered his adopted 13-month-old son, Preston Davey, and he will fight the allegations until the day he dies.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 A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
7. The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: “Frozen Watchfulness”
37:11||Season 17, Ep. 7In this episode Caroline and Liz have the evidence from a doctor who said in some of the videos on Jamie Varley’s phone, Preston Davey was in life threatening situations. Dr Jo Gifford, an expert in child sex abuse, said Preston showed signs of being mistreated and abused, and there was footage of him before he died which showed several “near misses.” We also have the evidence from Preston’s foster mum Sandra Cooper who came into court to refute Jamie Varley’s suggestion that the reason Preston was pictured and filmed naked was because she had advised he should be allowed “free willy time.” She said it was categorically untrue and she would view it as a big safeguarding issue.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.
6. The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: Was Preston bitten and abused?
38:56||Season 17, Ep. 6In this episode Caroline and Liz have the medical evidence which the jury were told were consistent with Preston Davey being bitten and sexually assaulted before he died. A pathologist with 40 years experience said she found evidence that he could have been smothered or he may have died from having something forced into his mouth. She also said he suffered bruises which were not accidental. Preston was 13 months old when he died within four months of being in the care of Jamie Varley and John McGowan Fazakerley who were in the process of adopting him. The prosecution say he was abused and murdered. Subscribe via thecrimedesk.comFollow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrimeEmail us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’) Presenter: Caroline Cheetham and Liz HullProducer: Chelsey RanoreEditor: Chelsey RanoreCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria Cecchini A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
5. The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: “That’s Bullsh*t”
20:50||Season 17, Ep. 5In this episode Caroline and Liz have the moment Jamie Varley was accused of the murder and sexual abuse of the baby he adopted - and he told police he would fight them to prove his innocence. In video footage shown in court he said he didn't believe Preston Davey, who was just 13 months old when he died, had injuries all over his body, and he said accusations of sexual assault were bullshit. He also said naked and explicit pictures of Preston on his phone were innocent and the police were "making a mountain out of a molehill."Subscribe via thecrimedesk.comFollow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrimeEmail us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’) Presenter: Caroline Cheetham and Liz HullProducer: Chelsey RanoreEditor: Chelsey RanoreCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria Cecchini A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.