The trial of a man accused of murdering and sexually assaulting his adopted child is due to restart this week after the jury in the initial trial was discharged.
Warning: This report contains details that some readers may find distressing.
Jamie Varley, 37, is charged with the murder of 13‑month‑old Preston Davey in July 2023. He also faces 25 further charges relating to alleged sexual and physical assaults on the child.
Varley’s partner, John McGowan‑Fazakerley, 32, is charged with causing or allowing the death of a child and four additional offences. Both defendants deny all charges.
The child died at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in July 2023. A post‑mortem examination concluded that Preston Davey had been smothered and had sustained more than 40 injuries in the final four months of his life.
The court heard that Preston had been adopted by the couple in April 2023 and had been taken to hospital on three occasions with injuries over the following months.
The original trial was halted last week after one juror became unwell. The judge discharged the jury and ordered that a retrial begin this week.
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