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Couple on Trial for 13-Month-Old's Murder After Disturbing Video

4/28/2026

31 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Prosecutors showed a video of the toddler spun at speed on a playground ride, edited and shared by the defendant.
Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazackerley are on trial at Court for the 2023 murder of 13-month-old Preston Davey, facing 29 charges and pleading not guilty.
A post-mortem found airway obstruction, likely smothering, plus saliva, sperm, DNA in the cot and photos of the child on the defendant’s phone.

History

Historical Context

In February 1993, two ten-year-old boys, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, abducted and murdered two-year-old James Bulger, becoming Britain’s youngest convicted murderers. Their 1999 European Court of Human Rights decision prompted tighter child-protection laws, including the 1994 Criminal Justice Act. The 2023 killing of Preston Davey now sees Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazackerley tried under those same protocols.

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Story summary

Prosecutors showed a video of the toddler spun at speed on a playground ride, edited and shared by the defendant.
Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazackerley are on trial at Court for the 2023 murder of 13-month-old Preston Davey, facing 29 charges and pleading not guilty.
A post-mortem found airway obstruction, likely smothering, plus saliva, sperm, DNA in the cot and photos of the child on the defendant’s phone.

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