Constance Marten and her partner Mark Gordon are currently facing trial at the Old Bailey over the tragic death of their newborn baby, Victoria, while living in a tent in wintry conditions on the South Downs. Marten has drawn parallels between their situation and historical instances of survival in humble conditions, including referencing Jesus surviving in a barn. She has defended her choice, driven by a desire to protect her daughter from being taken into care due to past negative experiences with social services involving her other children.

The court has heard Marten’s rationale for their actions, including plans to have someone smuggle their daughter abroad to avoid detection by authorities. Despite acknowledging her role in the events leading to her daughter’s demise, Marten has denied any intention of harm, emphasizing a maternal desire to care for and protect their child against a backdrop of their extreme off-grid lifestyle and challenging living conditions.

The prosecution has scrutinized the couple’s decisions, especially the preparedness and suitability of their living arrangements for a newborn, including the lack of heating, hot water, and electricity. Marten, however, has countered these criticisms by noting that the baby was kept warm against her skin and has challenged the court’s “Western perspective” on their living conditions, making analogies to how people live in different parts of the world.

Tragically, baby Victoria’s remains were found in a Lidl bag in a shed on a Brighton allotment. While Marten has vehemently denied allegations of “dumping” the baby, asserting that the baby was “placed” in the bag after her death, both she and Gordon face charges of manslaughter by gross negligence, perverting the course of justice, and other related offenses. The trial continues to delve into the complex circumstances leading up to the loss of baby Victoria, with both defendants denying the charges against them.