By Emeka Blast 
Baby Murder Trial Date Set; Family Weeps in Court
Relatives of 13-month-old Preston Davey were visibly emotional in court as the man accused of his murder stood before a judge.
Jamie Varley, 36, a former high school teacher, faces multiple charges including the murder and sexual assault of baby Preston in 2023. Varley had been in the process of adopting the child along with co-accused John McGowan-Fazakerley, 31. Both appeared in the dock at Preston Crown Court on Monday.
The child’s family sat in the public gallery, just a few yards away from the accused. One woman was seen in tears as she looked toward the defendants, surrounded by police officers.
Judge Robert Altham, the Honorary Recorder of Preston, acknowledged the presence of Preston’s family at the start of a 30-minute hearing dealing with administrative matters not yet reportable. “I gather there are members of Preston’s family here. They are most welcome,” he said.
A trial date for both defendants has been set for April 14 next year, with proceedings expected to last up to eight weeks. The men, who spoke only to confirm their names, were remanded in custody and are scheduled to appear again on October 13 for a plea hearing.
Varley faces an extensive list of charges, including murder, manslaughter, two counts of assault by penetration of a child, five counts of child cruelty, one count of grievous bodily harm, and one count of sexual assault. He also faces 10 charges for taking indecent images of a child, one for distribution, two for possession of indecent pseudo-images, and one for possessing an extreme pornographic image.
McGowan-Fazakerley is charged with allowing the death of a child, two counts of child cruelty, and one count of sexual assault.
The alleged offences, all connected to Preston Davey, occurred between March and July 2023 while the pair were living in Grimsargh, near Preston.
The police investigation began after Preston was brought unresponsive to Blackpool Victoria Hospital on July 27, 2023. He was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
At the time of his arrest, Varley had been working as a teacher at South Shore Academy in Blackpool. He was later suspended, according to the Cidari Multi Academy Trust, which operates the school.
