Aristocrat Constance Marten and lover held over newborn’s death
Couple Charged After Baby Found Dead in Locked Shed
Constance Marten, 35, and her husband Mark Gordon, 48, appeared in court today accused of manslaughter after the tragic death of their newborn baby, believed to be a girl named Victoria. The tiny body was found wrapped in a plastic bag beneath nappies inside a locked shed.
The couple faced Crawley magistrates in a packed courtroom, where they said nothing beyond confirming their identities and that they had no fixed address.
Nationwide Police Hunt Ends With Shocking Discovery
Police arrested the couple in Brighton after a seven-week nationwide search. Officers discovered the heartbreaking evidence of the baby’s death following a tip-off and an extensive search of an overgrown allotment.
Sniffer dogs, drones, helicopters and heat-seeking equipment were all deployed in the manhunt, which ended near where the couple were caught but without the baby in their possession.
Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford said the baby’s remains had been there for “several weeks” but it was too soon to establish the exact time of death.
Details Emerge of Mysterious Lifestyle on the Run
The court heard that Marten and Gordon, who had been dating since 2015, had been travelling the country by taxi and staying in hotels. They were spotted buying camping gear in Whitechapel and last seen on CCTV near a ferry in Newhaven.
Earlier in the year, a placenta was found dumped in an abandoned car with Marten’s passport nearby.
Next Steps: Post Mortem and London Court Hearing
A post mortem on baby Victoria is underway by a specialist paediatric pathologist. Marten and Gordon, who face multiple charges including manslaughter, perverting the course of justice, and concealing a child’s birth, were remanded in custody.
The case will now move to the Central Criminal Court in London with a hearing scheduled for March 31. Marten’s legal team has indicated bail may be sought at a later date.
