A court heard that during a hospital A&E visit, a teacher accused of killing a baby allegedly confessed, saying “I f***ing killed him” as medical staff tried to revive the child. Jamie Varley, 37, and his partner John McGowan-Fazackerley, 32, faced charges related to the death of 13-month-old Preston Davey, whom they were in the process of adopting. Prosecutors claim Preston sustained 40 injuries under their care before dying at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in July 2023.
The trial at Preston Crown Court involves allegations against both men, with McGowan-Fazackerley accused of involvement in the child’s death. Despite the charges, they have pleaded not guilty. During the sixth day of the trial, jurors were informed about the efforts made by medical staff to save Preston’s life when he arrived at the hospital in critical condition.
Dr. Wendy Aubrey, an anaesthetist involved in Preston’s care, testified that Varley exhibited erratic behavior during the resuscitation process, at one point exclaiming that he had caused the child’s death. Despite the efforts, Preston could not be revived, leading to Varley attempting to continue CPR against medical advice.
Nurse Rosanna Briggs shared details from the family, indicating that Varley had left Preston unattended in a bath seat, allegedly resulting in the child drowning. However, medical findings contradicted this account, showing no signs of water inhalation. Concerns were raised about the couple’s inconsistent statements and Varley’s peculiar references to his child protection training.
Varley faces multiple charges, including murder, assault, cruelty to a child, and various indecent image-related offenses. McGowan-Fazackerley denies charges related to child cruelty and sexual assault. The trial is ongoing.
