Runaway couple charged after tragic discovery of baby’s remains in Brighton
Couple Held Over Baby’s Death
Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, a runaway pair, have appeared in court accused of manslaughter following the death of their two-month-old baby. The grim discovery came on Wednesday afternoon when search teams found the remains of a baby in a shed in Brighton’s Hollingbury area.
The couple, dressed in tracksuits, only confirmed their names, birth dates, and that they had no fixed address during the brief court hearing. They face charges of manslaughter, concealing a child’s birth, and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Mysterious Abandoned Car Fuels Investigation
On January 5, police found the couple’s car abandoned and burning in a lay-by on the M61 near Bolton. Inside, they discovered an afterbirth and Constance Marten’s passport. Forensic experts believe Marten gave birth in or near the vehicle just days before it was set on fire.
Following the car’s discovery, the couple were spotted on CCTV in Liverpool, then Essex, carrying camping gear, as police launched multiple public appeals to track them down.
Final Sighting and Court Action
The last confirmed sighting of Marten and Gordon was on January 8 in Newhaven, Sussex. Police arrested them near the site where they uncovered the baby’s remains wrapped in plastic bags and weighed down with a pile of objects.
Magistrates in Crawley have sent the case to the Central Criminal Court. The couple are set to appear for a full hearing in the coming weeks, as the investigation into this heartbreaking case continues to unfold.
