Aristocrat and lover face manslaughter disgrace over baby’s tragic death
Reckless escape ends in horror
Constance Marten, 36, a well-heeled aristocrat, and her 49-year-old lover Mark Gordon are on trial for gross negligence manslaughter. The couple allegedly fled across the country, dodging authorities desperate to place their newborn daughter Victoria into care – just like their previous children. Instead of seeking help, they squandered money on taxis and transport during a grim winter.
Baby trapped in a bag for life
Poor Victoria spent most of her short life stuffed inside a ‘bag for life’ before being abandoned in a disused shed. There, rescuers found her lifeless body. Marten, despite her privileged background, pretended to be homeless, even adopting a fake Irish accent and false name to hide her identity.
Cold priorities condemned by court
Prosecutor Little slammed the couple, saying Marten had the means to care for her child but instead chose taxis over the baby’s welfare. “That baby never stood a chance,” he declared. Marten admitted she fell asleep on top of Victoria, waking to find the infant dead. She tried CPR but failed.
Chilling cover-up plans revealed
Marten also confessed she had thought about cremating the baby or burying her in an allotment to cover their tracks, but chose instead to keep the body. Gordon claims he too tried to save their daughter, describing the ordeal as “harrowing.” Both deny the manslaughter charges laid against them.
