In a case that has horrified the nation, aristocrat Constance Marten and her partner Mark Gordon have been handed lengthy prison sentences for the manslaughter of their newborn daughter, whom they callously left to die in a Lidl bag for life.
The Old Bailey heard how the couple's selfish and "excessively arrogant" desire to keep their child led them on a reckless months-long off-grid odyssey, culminating in the tragic death of baby Victoria in a makeshift tent on the freezing South Downs last winter.
A Life of Privilege Abandoned
Marten, 37, who comes from a wealthy aristocratic family, and Gordon, 50, a convicted sex offender, deliberately vanished from authorities after their four other children were taken into care. They embarked on a life on the run, paying for everything in cash and living in a tent to avoid detection.
Despite having access to a staggering £50,000 from a family trust fund, they chose to subject their vulnerable newborn to unimaginable squalor and perilous conditions, rather than accept help.
The Final, Fatal Days
The court was presented with harrowing evidence of the baby's final days. Marten gave birth in secret on Christmas Eve 2022. For weeks, the trio lived in a tent exposed to the harsh winter elements. The infant's body was eventually discovered on March 1, 2023, decomposing in a plastic bag buried under rubbish and nappies.
Mr Justice Goose delivered a scathing condemnation of the pair, stating: "You both knew that Victoria was seriously at risk of death if you did not take steps to keep her warm, dry and nourished. You did not do so. Your selfishness deprived Victoria of the life she was entitled to live."
Justice Served at the Old Bailey
Marten was sentenced to eight years and nine months, while Gordon received a term of eight years and three months. The judge highlighted their "cruel and heartless" failure to seek any medical assistance before, during, or after the birth, which was a significant factor in the tragic outcome.
This case serves as a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of neglect and the absolute duty of care parents owe their children, a duty these two individuals utterly and catastrophically failed to fulfil.
