South London Couple Hit with Extra Charges Over Baby Victoria’s Shocking Death
Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, a couple from Eltham, south London, now face two new criminal charges over the tragic death of their baby daughter. Their two-month-old baby, Victoria, was found dead in a plastic bag tucked away in a shed in Brighton.
New Charges: Child Cruelty and Causing Baby’s Death
The pair were already charged with manslaughter by gross negligence, concealing a child’s birth, and perverting the course of justice.
Now, police have slapped on fresh charges of child cruelty and causing or allowing the death of a child. Authorities claim the couple either directly caused Victoria’s death through an “unlawful act” or recklessly failed to protect her. The alleged crimes took place between January 4 and February 27.
Court Drama as Marten and Gordon Appear From Prison
At a tense Old Bailey hearing, 36-year-old Marten appeared via video link from Bronzefield prison, sporting a pink and white floral shirt. Gordon, 49, joined from Belmarsh jail, dressed casually in a grey tracksuit. Both confirmed their identities.
Judge Mark Lucraft KC adjourned the plea and case management hearing from August 18 to September 22. A trial is provisionally booked for January 2 next year, with a further hearing also set for August 25 to sort out outstanding legal issues.
Baby Victoria’s Tragic End and Ongoing Police Hunt
Victoria’s remains were horrifically discovered in a locked shed at an overgrown allotment in Brighton’s Hollingbury area on March 1. Marten and Gordon were arrested a short time later at Stanmer Villas in the city.
Although an initial post-mortem failed to determine a cause of death, police had been hunting the couple for weeks before making the arrest.
The heartbreaking case continues to unravel as the court battles to get to the bottom of what happened to baby Victoria. The coming months will reveal whether justice can finally be served in this grim saga.
