Taxi drivers have expressed their unease after unwittingly becoming part of the saga involving Constance Marten, 36, and Mark Gordon, 49, who are currently facing trial at the Old Bailey for the manslaughter of their newborn daughter, Victoria. The couple, accused of attempting to evade authorities by travelling across England and living off-grid, have drawn significant public attention due to their efforts to conceal their baby after four other children were taken into care.
CCTV footage reviewed by the jury showcased moments where the child, Victoria, was seemingly hidden under Marten’s coat, with only fleeting glimpses caught on camera during a stop in East Ham. Further footage depicted the couple in Whitechapel, east London, where Gordon purchased camping gear, including a children’s unicorn sleeping bag from Argos.
The trial heard from taxi driver Abdirisakh Mohamud, who recounted his suspicious and uncomfortable encounter with the couple after they boarded his cab carrying Argos bags and a Lidl bag-for-life, shortly after midnight on January 8. Gordon’s questioning about the driver’s religion, trustworthiness, and the presence of cameras in the cab heightened Mohamud’s apprehensions, prompting him to claim the existence of cameras for his own safety.
The couple’s explanation for wearing blue Covid facemasks added to the driver’s concern, with Marten initially claiming it as her “hijab” and Gordon citing a “problem with his hair.” Ultimately, Mohamud chose to end the journey prematurely in Green Lanes, Haringey, driven by his growing worry for the baby’s well-being.
Another driver, Hasan Guzel, shared his experience of transporting the defendants from Haringey to Newhaven in East Sussex. Guzel was initially perturbed by “meowing” sounds during the journey, which he later realized emanated from a baby concealed under Marten’s coat. The couple’s secretive behaviour and the cold, dark conditions at their destination in Newhaven left Guzel concerned about their next steps.
The couple’s nationwide evasion came to light after Greater Manchester Police initiated a missing person inquiry following the discovery of a placenta in their burnt-out car near Bolton. Marten and Gordon’s subsequent arrest in East Sussex led to the tragic finding of baby Victoria’s body concealed in a Lidl bag amidst rubbish in a disused shed.
Facing charges of manslaughter by gross negligence, perverting the course of justice, concealing the birth of a child, child cruelty, and causing or allowing the death of a child, Marten and Gordon’s trial continues to unravel a distressing narrative of evasion, concealment, and tragedy.
