The high-profile trial of Constance Marten, the aristocrat, and her partner Mark Gordon, a convicted rapist, has opened at the Old Bailey, revealing the tragic and disturbing circumstances surrounding the death of their newborn baby girl.
The jury heard how the couple's desperate attempt to keep their child, named Victoria, led them on a cross-country journey, living off-grid and ultimately concealing the infant's body in a disused shed in Brighton. The court was told that the baby was likely born in early January and died shortly afterwards, with her remains discovered months later in a Lidl bag-for-life.
A Life on the Run
Prosecutor Tom Little KC detailed how Marten and Gordon, fearing their child would be taken into social services care due to Gordon's past, embarked on a life of isolation. They allegedly travelled by taxi across England, paying for everything in cash to avoid a digital footprint.
Their journey took them from the North of England to Essex and finally to Brighton, where they camped on the South Downs. It was during this period, the prosecution argues, that the baby died due to exposure and a lack of appropriate care, with the couple then attempting to hide the body.
The Gruesome Discovery
The court was presented with the grim details of the discovery. The baby's remains, in an advanced state of decomposition, were found inside a plastic bag concealed within a disused shed on an allotment. A post-mortem examination was unable to establish a precise cause of death due to the condition of the body.
The prosecution's case centres on the allegation that the couple's actions, driven by selfishness and a desire to avoid authorities, directly led to the infant's wholly avoidable
death. They face charges of manslaughter by gross negligence, cruelty to a person under 16, concealing the birth of a child, and perverting the course of justice.
A Refusal to Engage
Throughout the police investigation and now at trial, both defendants have largely refused to engage. The jury was informed that they have offered no comment
in interviews and have chosen not to provide any defence statements ahead of the trial, which is expected to last several weeks.
