Parents Found Guilty of Gross Negligence Manslaughter
Constance Marten and Mark Gordon have been found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter after their newborn daughter, Victoria, died in freezing conditions. The couple had been on the run from authorities, fearing the child would be taken into care like their previous four children.
Constance Marten and Mark Gordon [Metropolitan Police]
Living Off-Grid to Evade Authorities
Victoria was born in December 2022. Days later, Marten and Gordon fled with her across England. They lived in a tent during winter, despite access to thousands from Marten’s trust fund. Prosecutors said they used significant amounts of money on taxis and accommodation but failed to provide warmth and care for their child.
Conditions Led to Baby’s Death
During their Old Bailey trial, the jury heard that the baby likely died of hypothermia or hyperthermia. Prosecutor Tom Little KC said the couple kept the baby in a tent under unsafe conditions. He told the court, “What happens thereafter is not accidental.”
“This case is about the duty that they owed to the baby, which they plainly breached,” Little said.
Police later found Victoria’s body in a shopping bag buried under rubbish in a shed on the outskirts of Brighton. It took authorities more than seven weeks to locate the couple, who refused to disclose the baby’s whereabouts.
The place where the baby was found in Brighton [Metropolitan Police]
Neglect Despite Financial Means
Investigators confirmed that Marten, who came from an aristocratic background, had ample financial resources. Instead, the couple spent time and money avoiding social services. Marten and Gordon feared intervention, having been previously ruled unfit parents by the courts.
Family History and Prior Incidents
The couple’s first four children had been placed into care following serious concerns. In 2019, Marten suffered a shattered spleen in an incident involving Gordon. No charges followed, but authorities launched welfare investigations.
Gordon had a previous conviction in the US for rape and armed offences. He served 22 years in prison. In 2017, he assaulted two police officers at a maternity unit in Wales where Marten gave birth.
Unusual Trial Proceedings and Convictions
The jury at the Old Bailey found the couple guilty after a retrial. They had earlier been convicted of child cruelty, concealing the birth, and perverting the course of justice. During the retrial, Gordon represented himself after his barrister withdrew. He cross-examined Marten in court.
Marten admitted she had placed Victoria inside her coat to keep her warm. She said, “I just knew she wasn’t alive and I felt responsible.”
Authorities Condemn Reckless Choices
Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, who led the investigation, stated, “We know today’s verdict won’t bring Victoria back, but I am pleased our investigation has resulted in the couple who caused her death finally being brought to justice.”
Prosecutors claimed the couple knowingly exposed their daughter to fatal risk. “They are responsible for her death, not the police, not the social services,” Little said.
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Background of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon
Marten grew up at Crichel House in Dorset. Her father, Napier Marten, gave up the family estate in 1996 after a personal awakening. Marten studied at St Mary’s School in Shaftesbury and later attended the University of Leeds.
She appeared in Tatler at 21 and trained as an actor before leaving school in 2016. Friends said she changed after meeting Gordon and eventually cut ties with family.
Gordon grew up in the US. He was convicted of multiple offences at age 14 and returned to the UK after serving his sentence. He claimed his mother, a nurse, taught him empathy.
Court Findings and Final Rulings
A family court earlier found the couple evaded local authorities. They failed to provide adequate care before and after their children’s births. Prosecutors said they were warned repeatedly that keeping a baby in a tent was dangerous.
The jury concluded Marten and Gordon’s efforts to avoid state intervention resulted in negligence that led to Victoria’s death. Sentencing is scheduled for 15 September at the Old Bailey.
