A new jury is expected to be sworn in on Monday before the trial restartsJohn Scheerhout, Rachel Smith and Ben Haslam Senior reporter
12:59, 23 Apr 2026
Preston Davey(Image: Lancashire Police)
A new jury will be sworn in for the trial of two adoptive dads after a 13-month-old baby died. Preston Davey died after being taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital on July 27, 2023.
A post mortem concluded his upper airways had been obstructed and he suffered cardiac arrest. Preston had been placed for adoption with Jamie Varley, 37, and John McGowan-Fazackerley, 32, at their home in Staining Avenue, Blackpool. Mr Varley is accused of murder, sexual assault, GBH, child cruelty, making indecent images and distributing an indecent image.
Mr McGowan-Fazackerley is accused of causing and allowing the death of a child, two counts of cruelty to a person under 16 and sexual assault of a male child under 13. Both deny the charges.
However, after the prosecution opened its case this week, the judge presiding over the case informed the jury this morning, April 23, they are now discharged from the case.
The judge, Mr Justice Turner, told them he regretted to say the reason for the case getting started today was down to circumstances which had arisen making it impossible for the trial to continue with the jury.
Jamie Varley(Image: X)
All 12 members were commended for their “attention and concentration” exercised over the course of the week.
He told them there was no “criticism of you at all”. He added: “I’m afraid I have no reasonable alternative but to discharge you from this trial.”
Mr Justice Turner discharged the jury and announced a new jury is expected to be sworn in on Monday when the trial will start again, Lancs Live reports.
John McGowan-Fazackerley(Image: X)
Both defendants, of Chandlers Way, Grimsargh, deny the allegations. The trial is expected to get underway again on Monday.
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