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Artwork for The Trial: Russell Brand

The Trial: Russell Brand

The Crime Desk

The Trial goes behind the headlines of some of the biggest trials in the world. We take you into the courtroom, bringing you the detail as the evidence unfolds, examining key moments and carrying out exclusive interviews with detectives, victims, and experts.


For ad-free listening to The Trial, exclusive bonus episodes every week, and complete access to previous series of the show, subscribe to The Crime Desk now. Visit www.thecrimedesk.com to become a member.


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  • 46 episodes
  • daily
  • Avg 28 min
  • English
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • S17 · E15
    June 12 · 24 min

    The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: The Jury

    The fate of Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley is now in the hands of the jury. As this trial comes to an end Caroline and Liz have the final arguments, the final pleas and the final instructions to the jury. The decisions on the guilt or innocence of the two men on trial is now up to them. Subscribe via thecrimedesk.com Follow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrime Email us thetrial@dailymail.com WhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’) Presenter: Caroline Cheetham and Liz Hull Actors: Benny Fiddimore and Lucy Ryan Editor: Chelsey Ranore Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini The Trial series uses actors and some voices generated by AI. Their words are taken as verbatim from the official court transcript. Click here to sign up to The Crime Desk's weekly newsletter. It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world. A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S17 · E14
    June 9 · 31 min

    The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: “A Tragedy Waiting to Happen”

    Preston Davey was in “peril at the hands of Jamie Varley” and John McGowan Fazakerly knew it - that’s what Peter Wright KC told the jury in this episode of the podcast with Caroline and Liz. As he closed his case, the prosecutor said Preston’s death was a “tragedy waiting to happen” - he said Jamie Varley had a sexual interest in children and he subjected Preston to a “litany of physical and psychological abuse” - and John McGowan Fazakerly could have foreseen what would happen. The danger Preston was in, Mr Wright said, was “blindingly obvious”. Subscribe via thecrimedesk.com Follow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrime Email us thetrial@dailymail.com WhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’) Presenter: Caroline Cheetham and Liz Hull Editor: Chelsey Ranore Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini The Trial series uses actors and some voices generated by AI. Their words are taken as verbatim from the official court transcript. Click here to sign up to The Crime Desk's weekly newsletter. It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world. A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S17 · E13
    June 5 · 39 min

    The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: “Your worst fears”

    In this episode John McGowan-Fazakerley tells the jury how he turned detective to try to piece together what caused his adopted son, Preston Davey, to die. He said he knew now that his trust in Jamie Varley had been misplaced because he hadn't known the extent of the disturbing content on his phone. John McGowan-Fazakerley denied ever abusing or harming Preston - he said the allegations were abhorrent and vile - but he was asked repeatedly why traces of his semen were found on Preston's cot. Subscribe via thecrimedesk.com Follow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrime Email us thetrial@dailymail.com WhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’) Presenter: Caroline Cheetham and Liz Hull Editor: Chelsey Ranore Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini The Trial series uses actors and some voices generated by AI. Their words are taken as verbatim from the official court transcript. Click here to sign up to The Crime Desk's weekly newsletter. It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world. A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S17 · E12
    June 2 · 19 min

    Update Episode - The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: John McGowan-Fazakerley

    In this update episode Caroline and Liz have the moment John McGowan-Fazakerley told his story. As he gave evidence for the first time, he said he and his partner Jamie Varley doted on their son. He also said he'd never seen Jamie Varley hit, punch, kick, poke, prod, smack or bite Preston and he said if he ever suspected his son was his danger, he would have grabbed him and run out of the front door to protect him. Subscribe via thecrimedesk.com Follow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrime Email us thetrial@dailymail.com WhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’) Presenter: Caroline Cheetham and Liz Hull Actors: Lucy Ryan Editor: Chelsey Ranore Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini The Trial series uses actors and some voices generated by AI. Their words are taken as verbatim from the official court transcript. Click here to sign up to The Crime Desk's weekly newsletter. It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world. A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S17 · E11
    May 29 · 38 min

    The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: Preston’s “brilliant life”

    In this episode Caroline and Liz have the cross-examination of Jamie Varley. He denies the prosecution’s claims that he abused Preston to punish him because he was struggling with being his main carer and resented his partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, for working or being away. He also denies making up a ‘cock and bull story’ about how Preston died to cover his tracks. Instead he tells the jury that, although he made mistakes and was sometimes a little rough with Preston, he loved him and he had a brilliant life. He says he did not cause Preston’s bruises, or sexually abuse or murder him. Subscribe via thecrimedesk.com Follow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrime Email us thetrial@dailymail.com WhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’) Presenter: Caroline Cheetham and Liz Hull Actors: Benny Fiddimore Editor: Chelsey Ranore Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini The Trial series uses actors and some voices generated by AI. Their words are taken as verbatim from the official court transcript. Click here to sign up to The Crime Desk's weekly newsletter. It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world. A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S17 · E10
    May 27 · 7 min

    Update Episode - The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: “Your Plaything”

    In this emergency update episode Caroline and Liz have the moment Jamie Varley’s story was picked apart. He was accused by the prosecutor of abusing Preston for his own amusement and gratification, of killing him, and then inventing a “cock and bull” story to cover it up. Subscribe via thecrimedesk.com Follow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrime Email us thetrial@dailymail.com WhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’) Presenter: Caroline Cheetham and Liz Hull Actors: Benny Fiddimore Editor: Chelsey Ranore Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. The Trial series uses actors and some voices generated by AI. Their words are taken as verbatim from the official court transcript. Click here to sign up to The Crime Desk's weekly newsletter. It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world. A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Showing 41–46 of 46 episodes