Jury Dismissed in Adopted Baby Murder Trial

The trial of Jamie Varley, a 37-year-old former high school teacher, has been paused after the jury was discharged. He is accused of sexually assaulting and killing 13-month-old Preston Davey, along with his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, who faces charges of causing or allowing the child’s death. Both defendants deny all allegations.

Preston was placed in foster care by Oldham Council following his birth in June 2022. He lived with his carers until April 2023, when he was adopted by the accused and moved to their residence on Staining Road, Blackpool. During the trial’s opening week, the prosecution argued that within four months of Preston’s placement with the defendants, he had endured consistent abuse, including indecent images, sexual assault, and physical harm resulting in 40 traumatic injuries.

“I regret to say the reason for the delay in starting today is that circumstances have arisen which make it impossible for this trial to continue now,” stated Mr Justice Turner, who dismissed the jury after a week of evidence. The judge praised the jurors for their dedication, noting no criticism was directed at them during the proceedings.

Varley claimed to police that he had left the child in the bath and returned minutes later to find him drowning. However, the prosecution highlighted this account as conflicting with the post-mortem findings, which indicated multiple non-accidental injuries and listed smothering or object insertion into the mouth as possible causes of death.

McGowan-Fazakerley is charged with allowing the child’s death, while Varley faces 25 counts, including murder, two assaults by penetration, five cruelty charges, and 13 counts of taking indecent photos of a child. The trial will resume with a new jury next Monday.

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