Constance Marten and Mark Gordon face charges of manslaughter, perverting the course of justice, and child cruelty in the death of their newborn, amidst claims of being pursued by private investigators.
At the Old Bailey, Constance Marten and her partner Mark Gordon are currently undergoing trial for charges related to the death of their newborn daughter, Victoria. Prosecutors argued that Marten and Gordon, both of no fixed abode, faced overwhelming evidence of neglect leading to Victoria’s tragic death. The baby was discovered in a disused allotment shed in Brighton.
The court heard that Marten secretly gave birth and then, together with Gordon, evaded authorities for 53 days. During the trial, the defence depicted Marten as a loving mother, with her barrister likening her to a “lioness” protecting her “cubs,” insisting that Victoria’s death was an accidental tragedy.
Compounding the intrigue, the prosecution addressed claims made by Marten and Gordon regarding supposed ‘Mission Impossible-style’ private investigators chasing them, suggesting the couple’s stories were “fantastical” without any supporting evidence. It was noted that although Marten’s parents had previously hired private investigators, they were not involved during the period Marten and Gordon were fleeing.
The couple refutes charges including manslaughter by gross negligence, perverting the course of justice, and child cruelty. The trial at the Old Bailey is set to continue, as further light is shed on the troubling circumstances surrounding Victoria’s death.
