Selfish acts lead to baby’s untimely death as couple attempts to evade authorities

In a disturbing revelation at the Old Bailey trial, Constance Marten, a 36-year-old aristocrat, and her accomplice Mark Gordon, 49, are accused of orchestrating a gruesome plot following the tragic death of their newborn baby girl, Victoria. The court heard that Marten, who allegedly woke up to find the baby dead, contemplated cremating the infant in the woods using a bottle of petrol.

The chilling saga began when Marten and Gordon concealed the birth of Victoria after Marten became pregnant in early 2022. The couple, described as “selfish” by prosecutors, went off-grid in freezing temperatures, living in a precarious tent during the harsh winter. Shockingly, baby Victoria reportedly spent a significant portion of her short life in a Lidl bag for life before her body was discovered covered in rubbish inside an abandoned shed.

Marten’s arrest brought forth a harrowing account of the events leading to Victoria’s death. In her police interview, Marten claimed to have found the baby lifeless in her jacket while they were in the countryside. Disturbingly, she admitted to considering cremating the infant, purchasing petrol for the macabre act.

Prosecutor Tom Little KC described the case as “the entirely avoidable death of a young baby,” emphasizing the reckless and callous behavior of the accused. The court heard that Marten and Gordon, parents to four other children who had been taken into care, prioritized their relationship and lifestyle over the well-being of their vulnerable baby girl.

The couple’s decision to live off-grid, depriving Victoria of essential needs such as warmth, shelter, and food, led to catastrophic consequences. They moved from location to location, resisting medical assistance and failing to register the birth. Despite the national attention on their case, Marten and Gordon continued their dangerous escapade, culminating in the tragic death of their daughter.

The court was informed that the authorities became aware of the baby’s existence when placenta wrapped in a towel was found on January 5 last year. This discovery triggered a missing person’s enquiry that intensified as Marten and Gordon attempted to hide their whereabouts. The couple traveled extensively, using taxis and changing locations, even scavenging food from bins and using furniture stuffing to keep warm.

Marten, hailing from a wealthy family with ties to royalty, allegedly lived in squalor with Gordon, displaying a stark contrast to their affluent background. The trial, expected to last six weeks, will determine the fate of Marten and Gordon, who deny charges including manslaughter by gross negligence, concealment of birth, cruelty to a person under 16, and perverting the course of justice.