Teacher and partner on trial over death of adopted baby, court hears conflicting accounts of events and medical findings
Jamie Varley, 37, and John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, are on trial at Preston Crown Court over the death of 13-month-old Preston Davey, who died on July 27, 2023, after being brought unconscious to Blackpool Victoria Hospital. Medics attempted resuscitation for nearly an hour before declaring the child dead. Both men deny charges of murder, sexual abuse, and cruelty. Court heard video evidence of their reactions, with Varley displaying extreme distress. A post-mortem revealed 40 injuries, and medical testimony indicated no water in the lungs, challenging a potential drowning explanation. Varley reportedly told paramedics he had left the baby unattended in a bath. The couple had been fostering the child for four months prior to his death.
Both sources cover the same courtroom proceedings but with distinct framing priorities. Daily Mail emphasizes emotional spectacle and personal guilt, while BBC News integrates medical testimony and investigative details, offering a more complete factual foundation.
- ✓ Jamie Varley, 37, and John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, are on trial for the abuse and death of 13-month-old Preston Davey, whom they were adopting.
- ✓ The child died on July 27, 2023, at Blackpool Victoria Hospital after arriving unconscious and not breathing.
- ✓ Medics attempted resuscitation for approximately 50 minutes before declaring the child dead around 7:20 p.m.
- ✓ Both defendants were present at the hospital and invited to be at the child’s bedside during resuscitation efforts.
- ✓ Video footage from police body cameras was shown in court, capturing the couple’s behavior after arrival at the hospital.
- ✓ Varley exhibited extreme emotional distress, including collapsing, wailing, and expressing guilt by saying 'it’s my fault' and 'kill me'.
- ✓ The couple had been caring for the child for four months prior to his death.
- ✓ Both men deny charges of sexual abuse, cruelty and in Varley’s case, murder.
Cause of death and medical findings
Includes testimony from Dr. Wendy Aubrey stating there was no water in the child’s lungs, contradicting a possible drowning narrative, and notes a post-mortem revealed 40 injuries.
Does not mention any medical or forensic evidence about the cause of death.
Focus on co-accused’s demeanor
Describes McGowan-Fazakerley as 'calmer' but with 'a look of terror in his eyes,' and later notes one parent was 'subdued'—likely referring to him.
Mentions McGowan-Fazakerley trying to console Varley but does not describe his behavior in detail.
Narrative of Varley’s explanation at hospital
Reports that Varley told paramedic Simon Crabb he left the baby in the bath while he showered and returned three to four minutes later, and pleaded 'Don’t let him die!'
Does not include what Varley told medical staff about the events leading to the emergency.
Emphasis on emotional performance vs. medical investigation
Balances emotional behavior with clinical observations and expert testimony, framing the event within a forensic and medical context.
Focuses heavily on Varley’s dramatic behavior, including dialogue in the bereavement room ('I’m going to hell'), and visual details like clothing.
Daily Mail
Framing: Daily Mail frames the event primarily as a dramatic, emotionally charged spectacle centered on the accused’s visible guilt and breakdown. The narrative emphasizes personal confession, remorse, and theatrical behavior.
Tone: Sensational and emotionally charged, with a focus on personal drama and moral condemnation.
Sensationalism: Headline uses emotionally charged language ('collapsed and wailed') and includes a direct quote out of context to heighten drama.
"Moment teacher 'who sexually assaulted and murdered baby he was adopting' collapsed and wailed 'it's my fault'"
Loaded Language: Describes Varley as 'hysterically' wailing and slapping himself—language that emphasizes spectacle over clinical observation.
"wailed ‘hysterically’ for his own mother and cried that he was 'going to hell'"
Framing By Emphasis: Focuses on Varley’s clothing (red Jurassic Park T-shirt, tartan pyjama bottoms) as a visual detail, which personalizes but does not advance factual understanding.
"wearing a distinctive red Jurassic Park T-shirt and tartan pyjama bottoms"
Appeal To Emotion: Repeats Varley’s emotional statements multiple times ('kill me', 'it’s my fault') without balancing with medical or investigative context.
"please kill me, please kill me"
Omission: Does not include testimony about the absence of water in lungs or the 40 injuries—key forensic details presented in court.
BBC News
Framing: BBC News frames the event as a developing legal and medical investigation, integrating witness testimony, forensic findings, and behavioral observations. It presents a more procedural and evidentiary account.
Tone: Investigative and factual, with measured emotional description and emphasis on medical and legal process.
Balanced Reporting: Headline uses a more restrained, action-oriented phrasing focusing on Varley’s plea to medics, avoiding direct attribution of guilt.
"Murder-accused teacher 'begged medics to save baby Preston'"
Proper Attribution: Includes testimony from paramedic Simon Crabb and Dr. Wendy Aubrey, providing professional medical perspectives on the resuscitation and physical findings.
"There was no water in his lungs. I would have expected water in his lungs."
Comprehensive Sourcing: Reports the number of injuries found post-mortem (40), which supports the prosecution’s case of prolonged abuse.
"post-mortem examination identifying 40 injuries"
Framing By Emphasis: Describes McGowan-Fazakerley’s demeanor as 'calmer' and 'subdued,' offering a comparative behavioral analysis between the two accused.
"one dad quite subdued"
Narrative Framing: Includes Varley’s reported statement about leaving the baby in the bath, providing context for a possible cause of incident.
"he had left the baby in the bath while he had a shower"
BBC News
BBC News provides more medical and procedural context, including testimony from paramedics and a senior anaesthetist, and describes the resuscitation efforts in detail. It also includes forensic findings (40 injuries, no water in lungs), which adds investigative depth.
Daily Mail
Daily Mail offers vivid narrative details from courtroom video footage and focuses on emotional reactions, but lacks key forensic and medical testimony that would provide context about the cause of death or investigative conclusions.
Murder-accused teacher 'begged medics to save baby Preston'
Moment teacher 'who sexually assaulted and murdered baby he was adopting' collapsed and wailed 'it's my fault' after being told child was not going to survive