Preston Davey Trial #3

[maytoseptember]

Also seizures, am I alone to have children and never heard of them having a seizure!?

JV has obviously lied about Preston having seizures to cover up the times he’s filmed him in respiratory distress. His excuse for filming being “I needed evidence to show doctors” but also “they told me not to worry about them unless they lasted a long time or he had several in a row”. Hence JV has an excuse to be pottering around ignoring Preston when he’s collapsed and dying, thinking about kayaks and so on.

Not many parents would be so blasé if their child started having seizures out of nowhere, especially in a child with no history of seizures prior to joining their family.

I think it was a convenient lie - Preston being a looked after child, probably showing signs of being damaged by drugs/alcohol in utero.

He did apparently have one seizure witnessed by staff in A&E, so was that genuine? JV said they put it down as a febrile seizure which was “normal” (I’d argue it’s wrong to call them normal - they’re not uncommon, but certainly not normal). I think this may have been when Preston had a chest infection. I’ve been wondering whether the chest infection was actually caused by him inhaling semen into his lungs.

 

[ItsmeImtheproblemitsme]

Have they confirmed the story about drs telling them not to be worried? Have they contacted gps or has everything been a&e? Surely that kind of thing would be on record?

 

[WinchWench]

This is what I have been wondering. If JV claims the docs told him to video these seizures, surely there will be record of this in the doctors or medical records?

 

[DipsyDoodle]

Why do we keep saying that they were "fast tracked" social services have their own timings for approval and it's about 8 months, though they very rarely meet this timing because adopters get overwhelmed, take breaks etc. a year is about average. There will obviously be outliers but I have an extensive adopters community and we were all done and dusted within 12 months.
You get approved for age groups and almost everyone wants 0-2 bracket. That's not unusual at all.

Thank you @Emsie for your insights into adopting, it's really helpful to be able to read your input as someone who has been through the process. I haven't and don't actually know anyone who has.

 

[Here2BNosey]

I just can’t work it out. Originally I thought he was slumped over at the waist. I can’t work out how he’s fixed in place, hanging over by his neck especially as people are saying his feet aren’t touching the mattress. Or maybe I’ve got that wrong. You’d think gravity would do its thing in that instance and he’d fall backwards.

I can’t imagine entering a room and seeing a baby like that with blue lips and tongue and doing nothing about it but take pictures.

Sorry if this has already been answered.

I thought very much like you initially. We are forgetting though an infants head is not in proportion with their body. So in theory head,arms and shoulders, would probably balance out torso and legs. One thing seems sure though, there is absolutely no way Preston could have placed himself there.

 

[IGiveUp22]

When the dr was on the stand for the prosecution, they covered the seizures. They did say it might be normal practice to advise parents to film them and if they go on longer/change then they’d need to attend A&E.

The seizures have been a direct result of deprivation of oxygen. This is one of the symptoms. Preston has been ruled out from having epilepsy.

I actually don’t think JV or JMF actually put two and two together that first time which I know probably sounds stupid but I’m actually thinking the first assault he actually didn’t realised he’d deprived him of oxygen. When taken to the hospital, no one else has considered this as an option - why? Well it’s probably the last thing that comes into a ‘normal’ persons mind.

I do think the hospital should have linked the number of visits though. I think there should be a process in place for X number of visits to hospital = removal from adoptive parents until an investigation takes place. If they’d had removed him and sent him back to his foster mother and then there was no further seizures - they could have 1) saved him, 2) still tried to prosecute the men as it would largely point they were doing something to cause said seizures

 

[MmmB777]

JV has obviously lied about Preston having seizures to cover up the times he’s filmed him in respiratory distress. His excuse for filming being “I needed evidence to show doctors” but also “they told me not to worry about them unless they lasted a long time or he had several in a row”. Hence JV has an excuse to be pottering around ignoring Preston when he’s collapsed and dying, thinking about kayaks and so on.

Not many parents would be so blasé if their child started having seizures out of nowhere, especially in a child with no history of seizures prior to joining their family.

I think it was a convenient lie - Preston being a looked after child, probably showing signs of being damaged by drugs/alcohol in utero.

He did apparently have one seizure witnessed by staff in A&E, so was that genuine? JV said they put it down as a febrile seizure which was “normal” (I’d argue it’s wrong to call them normal - they’re not uncommon, but certainly not normal). I think this may have been when Preston had a chest infection. I’ve been wondering whether the chest infection was actually caused by him inhaling semen into his lungs.

I think you’re right about what caused the chest infections. There was a lot of old damage to his lungs which is another suggestion this was all happening regularly.

Even if the first seizure was real then it was likely due to his high temp, so you’d still be terrified to see “seizures” when you knew there was no illness or fever. But then anyone with any common sense or kindness wouldn’t film any person let alone a small baby that can’t express how they feel, whilst they don’t take breaths for ages. He was obviously dying.

 

[Aberscot]

How many more weeks is the trial expecting to last ?
I think this week will be very interesting on their responses to the defence ( if JMF even takes stand), I just can’t see how They won’t be found guilty.
I don’t think jury will be out long

 

[Liverbird2003]

I am thankful that Preston knew love and care for most of his life from his foster mum. I am just devastated he got handed over to those monsters. They turn my stomach when I read about what they did to him.
If I hear the sentence "lessons will be learned " I will go crazy. How many children need to die? Why haven't lessons been learnt?

 

[2ofeach]

Why do we keep saying that they were "fast tracked" social services have their own timings for approval and it's about 8 months, though they very rarely meet this timing because adopters get overwhelmed, take breaks etc. a year is about average. There will obviously be outliers but I have an extensive adopters community and we were all done and dusted within 12 months.
You get approved for age groups and almost everyone wants 0-2 bracket. That's not unusual at all.

Your input is interesting & helpful as I guess it's not a field in which many will be aware of the finer details unless going through the process themselves BUT & there is a but.... the time scale is concerning.
These 2 men barely knew one another.
They met & set up home within a year of their relationship.
They passed all backgrounds checks & were gifted the joy of a precious child.
Within 4 months that child was dead.

Those 4 brief points combined are catastrophic. Maybe the system is too fast rather than 'fast tracked'.

IDK what the right answer is, who does, but I hand on heart think the hospital staff & SW did not raise individual concerns or join the dots & liase with one another because IF they had Preston would still be alive albeit damaged due to the 'care' these monsters gave him.

RIP precious Preston

 

[crazycakelady]

I haven’t commented before but been silently reading and following the trial,
I’m sat here with my just turned one year old asleep on me crying my eyes out for poor Preston and what those two horrors did to him.
I have experienced SA by both my biological father and step father and I just know how much he suffered,
I am a bit obsessed following I want justice for Preston but no punishment will be enough

 

[Ghostranch]

I think the "seizures" are BS. Maybe he had one genuine febrile seizure, but I think the others were episodes of respiratory distress due to abuse. Also, I don't think any loving parent would silently film their child having a seizure, and then just "potter" about, send messages etc. Surely you'd stay with your child to monitor them and provide reassurance?

 

[Marcolf]

I still struggle to understand how no alarm bells rang with the hospital staff!!
all the safeguard training shows the highest risk are children in care, non verbal babies and persons ..

After all that was learned following Victoria climbe, Daniel Pelka, baby P, just how was this baby missed
His foster mum raised concerns !
A well baby suddenly makes appearances in ED and no one suspects

Iv read some bits here and just listened to the podcast,

I think both will be found guilty and sentenced to a long period in jail.. my guess is there is an awful lot not being revealed.. there is no way two men can suddenly become dangerous peadophiles.. they would have some dark material on their phones or lap top
And this poor baby was sought for pure sick abuse .

I hope both these men are tortured and killed in prison much like Ian Huntley

BIB some tragic cases of children being abused by parents are entirely hidden in the home until it's too late but in this instance social services had the authority to monitor Preston and, as you say, he was taken to hospital where red flags should surely have been raised given the number of visits for injury, and the nature of the injuries, over a short space of time.

From BBC news report of SW's comments after the third hospital visit:

A social worker "pondered" whether there was a "problem" at the home of a baby allegedly murdered by his adoptive parents, but decided there was not, a court heard.

Helen Magee visited the Blackpool home of Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley to check on 13-month-old Preston Davey in July 2023, after his third admission to hospital.

In her notes, she wrote: "You were happy there with both your daddies. And this made me ponder a little as to whether there was a problem that I couldn't see. I decided there wasn't an issue."

 

[watermelonvapes]

I took a few days mental health break at the request of my husband. I hadn't realised just how much this case was affecting me. I've just come back this morning and haven't read any recent live court updates yet but just read everything here. Can I just say to MmmB777 you make some excellent succint points. You have a very efficient ability to connect all the dots and evidence and look down over the bigger picture, you pointed out things I'd never have thought of. I just hope the jury sees things as clearly as you've laid them out.

 

[nothinonyou]

I think once he's found guilty it's going to have a huge affect on the country. I think loads more will come out about him and his past, red flags in his behaviour that were overlooked. I think this is just the beginning and I really hope we never hear anything like this ever again , the details are abhorrent

 

[LetticeProtheroe]

I am also surprised they were allowed to adopt having only lived together a short time before starting the process. I think the recommendations are 1 to 2 years but I think that includes the idea that you knew each other for a few years before you moved in with each other.

They barely knew each other and having children let alone adopting puts a huge strain on a relationship. I know the actual process of adoptions in the UK can be fairly quick but if we are letting basically strangers adopt this needs to change.

 

[ItsmeImtheproblemitsme]

I am also surprised they were allowed to adopt having only lived together a short time before starting the process. I think the recommendations are 1 to 2 years but I think that includes the idea that you knew each other for a few years before you moved in with each other.

They barely knew each other and having children let alone adopting puts a huge strain on a relationship. I know the actual process of adoptions in the UK can be fairly quick but if we are letting basically strangers adopt this needs to change.

Bet they were celebrated for adopting too. ‘What a lovely thing to do’, ‘bet you could give a child an amazing life’, etc. Sickening.

 

[Orangesatsuma]

I think once he's found guilty it's going to have a huge affect on the country. I think loads more will come out about him and his past, red flags in his behaviour that were overlooked. I think this is just the beginning and I really hope we never hear anything like this ever again , the details are abhorrent

I can't understand why this hasn't been at the top of every newspaper/news website as it is the worst atrocity I think I have ever read about in terms of harm to a child...Will more come out after the verdict?

 

[ItsmeImtheproblemitsme]

I can't understand why this hasn't been at the top of every newspaper/news website as it is the worst atrocity I think I have ever read about in terms of harm to a child...Will more come out after the verdict?

This was exactly like the Letby trial, nothing in the papers until the verdict.

 

[TheMiceInTheShed]

Yes it definitely said there were pictures of exes too. Could have been on the pod? Definitely heard/seen that somewhere. I really think him saying “oh but I didn’t put Preston pics in the vault” is him telling on himself and reveals more than if he’d said nothing about it. It feels like somewhere along the way he’d thought about putting those pictures in there.

And that there had been pictures in the first place.