UK - Preston Davey, 13 months - murdered and SA’d by prospective adoptive parents

[Dotta]

"Foster mum of murdered baby ​

tells court of 'gut feeling' ​

about accused killer adoptive dad and his boyfriend.​

A foster mother who cared for a baby boy before he was sexually abused and murdered
had a 'gut feeling' the tot was being 'hidden' from her
after he was handed over to a teacher and his boyfriend for adoption,
a court heard today.

Sandra Cooper
looked after Preston Davey for the first ten months of his life
before he was placed in the care of Jamie Varley, 37, and his partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32.

Initially,
Mrs Cooper, an experienced foster carer who had looked after 43 children over 27 years,
had no concerns about the couple taking on Preston.

But,
within days of Preston going to live with Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley permanently,
Mrs Cooper said she became 'worried’
because the couple cancelled or failed to show up
at two of three scheduled meetings.

‘I called the social worker and said,
I feel like something is wrong.
When we started to get different reasons
(for why they couldn’t attend)
I started to get worried'."

Fears for baby 'murdered by teacher adopting him with his boyfriend'

Sandra Cooper looked after Preston Davey for the first ten months of his life before he was placed in the care of Jamie Varley, 37, and his partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32.

www.dailymail.com

PS

"Nick Johnson, KC, defending Varley"

????
NJ KC the Prosecutor in Lucy L case??

 

[Parker Knoll]

One and the same yes.

 

[Silverlink]

The 12 members of the jury are brought into court.

The judge, Mr Justice Turner, tells them he regrets to say the reason for the delay this morning is that ‘circumstances have arisen’ which make it impossible for the trial to continue with this jury.

The judge said he commended their 'attention and concentration you have exercised over the last few days’.

He stressed there was no ‘criticism of you at all’ of the jury.

“I’m afraid I have no reasonable alternative but to discharge you from this trial,” he said.

Mr Justice Turner discharged the jury and a new jury is expected to be sworn in on Monday when the trial will start again.

Preston Davey trial LIVE as jury discharged as two men accused of abusing baby

Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazackerly face a string of charges after Preston Davey's death

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

 

[VioletLilac]

If the jury haven't done anything wrong I'm wondering if any have had to be discharged due to being too distressed by it. (Completely understandable.)

 

[Silverlink]

If the jury haven't done anything wrong I'm wondering if any have had to be discharged due to being too distressed by it. (Completely understandable.)

It says in this article that the reason is 'not reportable'. Could be that some sort of conflict of interest has arisen that wasn't known before.

Preston Davey baby murder trial jury discharged by judge

Judge Mr Justice Turner discharged the jury at Preston Crown Court earlier.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[VioletLilac]

It says in this article that the reason is 'not reportable'. Could be that some sort of conflict of interest has arisen that wasn't known before.

Preston Davey baby murder trial jury discharged by judge

Judge Mr Justice Turner discharged the jury at Preston Crown Court earlier.

www.bbc.co.uk

Yes, might be

 

[joe jones]

it is only delayed, they will have another trial,

 

[Parker Knoll]

Back on Monday 27/4/26

 

[Dotta]

If the jury haven't done anything wrong I'm wondering if any have had to be discharged due to being too distressed by it. (Completely understandable.)

I wouldn't be able to be a Juror in this particular case
This is too much.

But then, there would be no chance.
I live far away.
And we only have bench trials, with few Jurors who simply give their opinions to the Judge/s.
The Judge, sometimes 2 ones, decide the verdict.

I hope the little boy will get proper Justice.
Terrible, terrible case
Words simply fail me.

 

[Dotta]

"Jury discharged ​

in trial of baby allegedly sexually abused and murdered by teacher in process of adopting him with his boyfriend.​

Today,
on the fourth day of the trial,
the six men and six women were formally discharged by the presiding judge, Mr Justice Mark Turner.

He told the jury:
'Circumstances have arisen
which make it impossible for this trial to continue.

I commend your obvious attention and concentration you’ve exercised over the last few days and you’ve performed your duty
– this isn’t any criticism of you.

I’m afraid I’m left with no reasonable alternative…
with a heavy heart I discharge you from this trial'.

The trial,
expected to last six to eight weeks,
is expected to start again with a fresh jury panel on Monday.

A post-mortem found the tot had suffered 40 internal and external injuries
– including severe bruising to the back of his throat.
A pathologist concluded he had been smothered and had died
of an ‘acute upper airway obstruction'."

Jury discharged in adopted baby murder trial

Jamie Varley, 37, and John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, were on trial at Preston Crown Court accused of sexually abusing Preston Davey, aged 13 months.

www.dailymail.com

 

[bombardier]

"Jury discharged ​

in trial of baby allegedly sexually abused and murdered by teacher in process of adopting him with his boyfriend.​

View attachment 661478

Today,
on the fourth day of the trial,
the six men and six women were formally discharged by the presiding judge, Mr Justice Mark Turner.

He told the jury:
'Circumstances have arisen
which make it impossible for this trial to continue.

I commend your obvious attention and concentration you’ve exercised over the last few days and you’ve performed your duty
– this isn’t any criticism of you.

I’m afraid I’m left with no reasonable alternative…
with a heavy heart I discharge you from this trial'.

The trial,
expected to last six to eight weeks,
is expected to start again with a fresh jury panel on Monday.

A post-mortem found the tot had suffered 40 internal and external injuries
– including severe bruising to the back of his throat.
A pathologist concluded he had been smothered and had died
of an ‘acute upper airway obstruction'."

Jury discharged in adopted baby murder trial

Jamie Varley, 37, and John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, were on trial at Preston Crown Court accused of sexually abusing Preston Davey, aged 13 months.

www.dailymail.com

does anyone have an idea what these "circumstances" could have been?

 

[joe jones]

does anyone have an idea what these "circumstances" could have been?

it's highly unlikely we will find out, English courts are noticeably tight lipped with giving out details, especially as they need to have another trial, lets hope the second one goes without a hitch