Baby Killer Constance Marten to Appeal Manslaughter Conviction Using Legal Aid Despite £2.8m Taxpayer Bill
Constance Marten, the former aristocrat convicted of killing her baby daughter, is now preparing to launch an appeal using legal aid, despite the case already costing the public more than £2.8 million.
Marten, 38, who was convicted of manslaughter alongside her partner Mark Gordon, is expected to argue that the jury was unfairly prejudiced during her retrial after she blurted out in court that Gordon was a convicted rapist — a claim she made in defiance of a court-imposed reporting restriction.
Legal Aid Controversy Deepens
Marten, who reportedly has a £2.4 million personal fortune, continues to access taxpayer-funded legal aid, igniting fury among campaigners and MPs. The bill for the couple’s investigation, trial, and retrial has reached £2.8 million — including £1.2 million in police costs and an estimated £1.6 million in legal aid.
Despite this, her lawyers now plan to argue that the Recorder of London, Judge Mark Lucraft, failed to warn the jury quickly enough to disregard Marten’s courtroom outburst about Gordon’s violent past.
Appeal Plans Emerge Despite Previous Promise
Gordon, 51, who was sentenced to 22 years in a Florida prison for a 1989 knifepoint rape, originally promised to waive any right to appeal, citing the cost and fairness of the trial. But following their manslaughter convictions on Monday, he shouted:
“I’m not surprised by the verdict. It was faulty, it was unlawful. This is not over – it has just begun.”
Marten also screamed: “It’s a scam” before storming out of court.
Trial Judge Condemned Attempt to Derail Case
Judge Lucraft had previously imposed reporting restrictions on Gordon’s past, which included convictions for armed kidnapping, four sexual assaults, armed burglary, and aggravated battery. Marten’s deliberate breach, claiming police bias, nearly derailed the retrial.
The judge branded it a “deliberate attempt to sabotage the trial”, but allowed proceedings to continue after Gordon declared he was “not worried about prejudice”.
National Safeguarding Review Launched
Following the high-profile convictions, a national child safeguarding review has been launched to explore potential reforms — including introducing protection orders for unborn children.
Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, who led the investigation, said:
“If there was a change in the law, protection orders could be put in place before birth. This could save lives.”
A Department for Education spokesperson added:
“Victoria’s life was cut devastatingly short by those who should have protected her. It is right that justice has now been served.”
Sentencing Date and Public Reaction
The couple will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on 15 September.
Public outrage continues to grow over Marten’s expected appeal, with critics calling for a review of her access to legal aid.
“This is a grotesque misuse of public money,” one legal commentator said. “Taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for a wealthy woman’s legal games.”
