Aristocrat Constance Marten and Husband Charged Over Newborn’s Death
Constance Marten, 35, and her husband Mark Gordon, 48, appeared in Crawley magistrates’ court today charged with the manslaughter of their newborn daughter, believed to be named Victoria. The heartbreaking case came to light when the baby was found dead in a locked shed, wrapped in a plastic bag beneath nappies.
Chilling Courtroom Drama
In a packed courtroom, the couple said little beyond confirming their names, birthdates, and that they had no fixed address. They now face charges of manslaughter, perverting the course of justice, and concealing a child’s birth. The court clerk confirmed the baby’s gender and name following the hearing.
Marten and Gordon were brought from custody for a post mortem on the baby. Gordon sat stiffly in a grey tracksuit with a sweatshirt hood pulled over his head. Marten, her long curly brown hair visible, smiled and greeted Gordon before the pair sat apart, guarded by security officers but whispering to one another.
Nationwide Police Hunt Ends in Brighton
Prosecutor Jeremy King revealed the chilling trail leading to the discovery. On January 5, a placenta was found in an abandoned car alongside Marten’s passport. The couple, who had been dating since 2015, had been travelling across the UK by taxi and staying in hotels. CCTV caught them buying camping gear in Whitechapel and near a Newhaven ferry terminal.
Initially, the pair refused to answer police questions. A large search team, including sniffer dogs, drones, helicopters, and heat-seeking tech, combed an overgrown allotment near their arrest site in Brighton’s Hollingbury area. The baby’s body was found inside a locked shed.
Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford said the baby’s remains had been there “several weeks,” but it’s too early to determine the exact date of death. A specialist paediatric pathologist is conducting the post mortem.
Next Steps in Tragic Case
The case will now move to London’s Central Criminal Court. Marten’s lawyer stated no bail application would be made today but that one could follow. The couple are set to return to court on March 31.
This tragic saga ends a desperate seven-week police search for the missing newborn and her parents, casting a spotlight on a harrowing family story.
