by Laura Perrins, TCW
‘HE was just so, so perfect.’ These were the words John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, gave in a police interview when describing baby Preston Davey. Preston died in July 2023, aged 13 months.
Preston was taken into foster care by Oldham Council when he was five days old. He was placed with McGowan-Fazakerley and his 37-year-old partner Jamie Varley on April 1, 2023. Four months later he was dead.
The trial of the two men has been ongoing on Preston Crown Court. I have followed it closely. I was going to wait until after a verdict but I feel it is necessary to report the proceedings at this point.
Varley is accused of murder, sexual assault of a child under 13, inflicting grievous bodily harm, five counts of child cruelty and further counts of making, taking and distributing indecent images.
McGowan-Fazakerley is accused of causing or allowing the death of Preston and child cruelty and sexual assault.
Both men deny all charges.
The Crown closed its case last week. It included medical evidence from Dr Joanne Gifford, an expert in child sexual abuse and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health’s clinical lead. She reviewed the evidence and produced a 173-page report, sections of which she was asked about in court by prosecutor Peter Wright KC.