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The Trial

The Trial

By: The Crime Desk
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About this listen

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Crime Desk True Crime
Episodes
  • The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: A “Sinister Tragedy”

    The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: A “Sinister Tragedy”
    Apr 21 2026

    In this episode Caroline and Liz have the start of a brand new trial and a new series. The tragic death of a baby boy called Preston Davey is at the centre of this trial. Did the two men who adopted him abuse him? And did one of those men murder him? Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley deny harming Preston and in this opening episode we have the details of what they’ve been accused of.


    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

    Actor: Ollie Sykes

    Editor: Chelsey Ranore

    Producer: 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.
    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
  • NEW TRIAL: The Tragic Life of Preston Davey

    NEW TRIAL: The Tragic Life of Preston Davey
    Apr 21 2026

    Caroline and Liz are back with a new trial and a new series on the podcast about the tragic life - and death - of a baby boy. Preston Davey died aged 13 months old, allegedly at the hands one of the men who adopted him. It's alleged Jamie Varley, a high school teacher, murdered Preston and that he and his partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, abused 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

    Producer: Chelsey Ranore

    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.
    Show More Show Less
    1 min
  • The Southport Dance School: They Were Failed

    The Southport Dance School: They Were Failed
    Apr 17 2026

    In this episode Caroline and Liz discuss the detailed findings from an inquiry into the horrific attack on a dance school in Southport in 2024. They dissect Sir Adrian Fulford’s 700 page report in which he outlines the failures which allowed Axel Rudakubana to murder 3 littie girls and attack many more. From the agencies who didn’t comprehend the danger he posed, the staff who failed to have professional curiosity, the police who failed to arrest him two years earlier and his parents who knew he hoarded weapons - but failed to report him. In short the deaths of Alice, Elsie and Bebe were entirely preventable.


    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

    Producer: Chelsey Ranore

    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.
    Show More Show Less
    43 mins
All stars
Most relevant
Highly recommend. The podcast shares lots of detail in an unbiased and sensitive way.

Gripping and professionally produced

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Great pod cast, very well executed, informative, real truthful points made and produced well. But.....the two hosts are always interrupting guests, and each other. Let the guest speak and finish their sentace, rather than talking over them with another question while they are still explaining the current question. You both talk over each other also, and it's slightly annoying. wait, take a breath, let the other perolson finish, then ask another question. It's not difficult.

interruptions

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Some of the voice actors are quite corny and very amateur, but the overall presentation is good. The trial proceedings are explained clearly and respectfully. I wish they would explore the psychology behind Letby more, but maybe that is for a future episode.

Interesting listen

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A gripping listen and very well put together. However, presenters and actors (all apart from guest speakers) are monotone / flat and a little painful to listen to.
But totally appreciate this is not a performance but delivery of a sensitive topic and cannot be sensationalised.

Excellent podcast.

Well Presented.

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Very professional production with all the evidence presented without prejudice. The jury will have a tough job with this case which at times is a tough listen.

Gripping Listening

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