Preston Davey Trial #3

[pixieroo]

I don’t know how it works tbh. There’s just been a trial for a murder local to me and the murderer’s girlfriend (only witness to the murder) wasn’t called as a witness at all bizarrely, they didn’t even read a statement of hers out.

Local to me too I believe - LH?

The fact she was initially arrested and then released with no charges, and then not even called to testify in defence or in prosecution? I believe from local chatter she was maybe deemed to be an unreliable witness from what she said in interview. I'd initially thought it was due to protecting her kids, but she was fully named in the trial reporting. Very bizarre.

To keep it on topic - I've just had a quick google and it tells me you can't refuse if you've been formally summoned to attend. So we shall have to wait and see!

 

[SamPam]

Local to me too I believe - LH?

The fact she was initially arrested and then released with no charges, and then not even called to testify in defence or in prosecution? I believe from local chatter she was maybe deemed to be an unreliable witness from what she said in interview. I'd initially thought it was due to protecting her kids, but she was fully named in the trial reporting. Very bizarre.

To keep it on topic - I've just had a quick google and it tells me you can't refuse if you've been formally summoned to attend. So we shall have to wait and see!

Yes LH. Just strange wasn’t it, I knew they’d dropped the charges against her but I still thought she’d have had to say in court what she’d witnessed.
The barrister did say something towards the end that sounded like she was continuing to lie for him. Poor Luke.

 

[Amydior1947]

Is the trial resuming today?

 

[nothinonyou]

Is the trial resuming today?

I don't see any updates

 

[Griftygardener]

Is the trial resuming today?

It's on the list, but there don't seem to be any updates yet.

 

[Amydior1947]

I don't see any updates

No me neither. Wonder what’s happening

 

[Marcolf]

The trouble is lessons arent being learnt!

It feels like with austerity, things are getting worse. And i also think social media....and the increased sexualisation of stuff/access to photos of porn etc cant help. Are there enough experienced social workers and health visitors for instance? do they have enough time to do their work and check on the children in their care properly? Or is it like care for the elderly, where its often a quick 10 minute visit, without the social chit chat that really gets under the surface to see how someone is actually coping.?

I also think they need to look again at how stuff like safeguarding works. It feels like such a beaureaucratic process, pages and pages of paperwork, pages and pages of being sensitive and not offending anyone, maybe it should be more about gut feelings and loads more informal checks, if a looked after child is hospitalised, even with what looks like an ''innocent'' injury, send in more social workers and health visitors to check. And give them the right to ask intrusive questions and not just follow a check list.

The concerns of the initial foster carer, should have been listened to for instance.

I tend to think 'follow their gut' works better if you have a confident, professionally mature person who knows the rules and all the scenarios, and that she'll be backed by management. And no-one should be trained out of doing or asking things in case they offend adults. Otherwise a checklist of consistent rules can help with establishing to the public that the profession has a protocol which has to be followed and complied with. It's important the protocols are drawn up according to what safeguards the child, not what protects the sensibilities of adults.

 

[PaddyDomino]

I don't see any updates

Yes, there's nothing on Manchester Evening News.

 

[TheMiceInTheShed]

I’m also guessing plenty of breaks this week due to one or both of these slugs feeling “ unwell “
It gives them precious thinking time sadly.

It also shows up the type of person they are to the jury.

 

[pixieroo]

With the lack of updates from court I'm wondering if one of them has already said it's too hot and they don't feel well?

Very strange to not have a single thing, the last update didn't confirm they'd be back on Tuesday either. Although it is listed as begining at 10.30am.

 

[nothinonyou]

Could be some legal stuff they're dealing with today

 

[Griftygardener]

It's on courtserve as starting at 1030 today. Strange there's no journo reporting of delays, if there are any.

 

[maytoseptember]

One thing that bothers me is how difficult it must be, as a professional, to say the unsayable and accuse an adoptive couple of abuse.

The hospital had no such qualms calling in the police because they’re not deeply involved with the family. But when the social workers were called to make an evaluation, even the supposedly independent social worker called in after the hospital flagged them, she decided there was no issue. And honestly? I can see why.

In the absence of a child being able to speak and say they’re being hurt, all she had was the denials and victimhood of JV. Who actually would have been brave enough to blow up this placement and remove Preston from yet another home? Especially as there was a risk that she’d made the wrong call? It’s almost like a sunk cost fallacy - we’ve placed this child with this couple, we can’t possibly remove the child without concrete evidence of maltreatment because what if I’m wrong?

As upsetting as it is that Preston could have been saved, I actually think there was too much confirmation bias going on amongst the social workers to ever achieve it.

 

[PaddyDomino]

Could be some legal stuff they're dealing with today

A new episode of The Trial podcast has literally gone up a few minutes ago but I don't have to time to listen now, maybe they will explain what's happening today?
I wonder if one or both of them is going to plead guilty?!

 

[chazzlechuzzle]

I couldn’t sleep again just thinking about how when/if Preston saw his foster mammy during the time he was with these monsters (did he?) then he would have maybe thought she was going to take him back home to where he was safe and loved

I know I was upsetting myself by possibly embellishing this whole scenario but I can’t explain how this all breaks me for poor vulnerable and silent Preston, there are no words.

 

[Amydior1947]

A new episode of The Trial podcast has literally gone up a few minutes ago but I don't have to time to listen now, maybe they will explain what's happening today?
I wonder if one or both of them is going to plead guilty?!

Funny you say this because I have a feeling something is happening. There’s a complete radio silence

 

[calmyourritas]

I missed a few days (Thursday and Friday) as I’ve been super busy, just came to catch up now and the MEN reporting I can only go back to read Fridays. Does anyone know where I still can read Thursdays updates now so I don’t miss anything?

 

[pixieroo]

I missed a few days (Thursday and Friday) as I’ve been super busy, just came to catch up now and the MEN reporting I can only go back to read Fridays. Does anyone know where I still can read Thursdays updates now so I don’t miss anything?

If you're on a computer I can scroll to the bottom and click 'load more entries' and see all the way back to the begining of the trial that way.

On my phone, I had to click the menu and 'view in desktop version', and it worked that way too then. Hoping that is helpful!

 

[Shinythings]

A new episode of The Trial podcast has literally gone up a few minutes ago but I don't have to time to listen now, maybe they will explain what's happening today?
I wonder if one or both of them is going to plead guilty?!

No, it's just going over Fridays proceedings.

 

[nothinonyou]

No reason mentioned in the podcast despite them recording it today. I don't see a guilty plea coming here at all