Gay adoptive father accused of murdering baby confessed to 'dark thoughts'

A man on trial is accused of killing the 13-month-old he was adopting after telling a friend he had 'harmful' thoughts; the prosecution says a post-mortem found non-accidental injuries and listed acute upper airways obstruction as the cause of death.

Jamie Varley, 37, a teacher, is on trial accused of killing 13-month-old Preston Davey at a home in Blackpool in July 2023. Prosecutors told jurors Varley had told a friend he was having 'harmful' or 'dark' thoughts about the infant. Preston had been placed with the couple earlier in 2023 after being in care, and he was admitted to hospital several times in the months before his death. The trial is proceeding at Preston Crown Court and both defendants deny the charges. Key facts: - The prosecution says Varley told a female colleague he had harmful thoughts about the baby, including thoughts of drowning or suffocating him, though he said he would not carry them out, according to court reporting. - On 27 July 2023 the child was taken to hospital unconscious and was later pronounced dead. - A post-mortem was reported to have found multiple non-accidental injuries and gave the cause of death as acute upper airways obstruction. - Varley faces multiple charges, including murder and a range of sexual and child cruelty allegations; his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley is accused of causing or allowing the death and other offences. Both defendants have entered not guilty pleas. Summary: The prosecution has presented testimony that Varley disclosed harmful thoughts to a friend and pointed to medical findings that the death involved non-accidental injuries. Proceedings are ongoing at Preston Crown Court. Undetermined at this time.