Baby death trial hears father could not account for injuries
BBCA man accused of sexually abusing a baby allegedly murdered by his partner told police he never harmed the child, a court heard.
John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, is accused of causing or allowing the death of Preston Davey, aged 13 months, along with child cruelty and a sexual assault.
His 37-year-old partner Jamie Varley is accused of murdering the baby boy in July 2023 in Blackpool, and multiple offences of cruelty and child sexual abuse.
Both men deny all charges at Preston Crown Court.
- Warning: The following court evidence contains distressing information
Jurors at the court were shown the police video interview of McGowan-Fazakerley being asked to account for the child's injuries.
He was asked a series of questions about bruises and abrasions to the baby's head, both arms, both legs, chest and back.
McGowan-Fazakerley replied: "I've never caused any injuries to him ever, I've never hurt him, never done anything to him.
"I've never seen anybody hurt him and I would never allow anybody to hurt him."
He was then asked about injuries which the jury had been told were clinical signs of sexual abuse.
McGowan-Fazakerley, who became emotional, told detectives: "No, no, no. No account for those injuries whatsoever.
"I understand you have to ask these questions but… I've never witnessed Jamie or anybody else, hurt, harm, abuse, neglect, all of the above, or anybody else hurt him."
Preston was born in June 2022, taken into care by Oldham Council and placed with foster parents at five days old.
He remained with the foster carers for the first 10 months of his life.
After an assessment and familiarisation process, Preston was adopted, and began living with Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley at their home in Blackpool on 1 April, 2023.
Varley, who took a year off his job as head of year at a high school to adopt, confessed to friends he was struggling with a lack of sleep because of the baby constantly waking in the night, the court heard.
He allegedly told other people he had "dark thoughts" about the child and described the baby as "just annoying".
Preston was admitted to hospital three times in just under four months after being adopted.
Prosecutors allege the baby was routinely ill-treated, had indecent images and videos taken of him, and was sexually abused and physically assaulted, suffering 40 traumatic injuries.
He died in hospital on 27 July, 2023, having suffered a collapse and cardiac arrest, allegedly following a sexual assault by Varley.
Varley told police the he had briefly left the child in the bath and when he returned he was off his bath seat and submerged.
Varley denies murder, manslaughter, two counts of assault by penetration, five counts of cruelty to a child, grievous bodily harm, sexual assault of a child, 13 counts of taking indecent photos or videos of a child, one of distributing an indecent photo of a child, to his co-accused, and one of making an indecent photo.
McGowan-Fazakerley denies allowing the death of a child, three counts of child cruelty and one count of the sexual assault of a child.
The trial was adjourned until Thursday morning.
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