Aristocrat and partner charged with manslaughter after baby found dead in woods
Constance Marten and Mark Gordon have been charged with gross negligence manslaughter after the remains of a baby were found in an area of woodland in Brighton.
It comes after remains were found last night after a major two-day search operation in Sussex.
The Metropolitan Police said they believed the baby had been dead for "several weeks" before they were found. It was "too early" to provide a specific date of death, they added.
The Met said a post-mortem examination would take place on Friday.
Marten, 35, and Gordon, 48, were arrested on Stanmer Villas in Brighton on Monday after avoiding the attention of police, with the first police force to launch an investigation being Greater Manchester Police on January 5, after the couple’s car is found on fire and abandoned on the hard shoulder of the M61 in Bolton.
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Mark Gordon, the boyfriend of Constance Marten (PA)
Aristocrat Constance Marten is facing a manslaughter charge (PA)The Crown Prosecution Service said the aristocrat and her partner are also accused of concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice.
Barry Hughes, chief crown prosecutor for CPS London North, this evening said: “The CPS has authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Constance Marten and Mark Gordon with gross negligence manslaughter.
“Constance Marten, aged 35, and Mark Gordon, aged 48, have also been charged with concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice.
A vigil being held at St Mary Magdalen Church, in East Sussex (PA)"These charges arise from their arrest on Monday as a result of a lengthy police investigation to establish their whereabouts and that of their baby.
“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Constance Marten and Mark Gordon are active and that they have the right to a fair trial.”
The pair will appear at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Earlier on Thursday, the force’s Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford said officers had been unable to determine the baby’s gender.
Tributes are left on Golf Drive in Brighton (PA)He told reporters the case had been referred to the police watchdog.
At the press conference this afternoon, Mr Basford said: "My team has been working on this investigation for the past eight weeks and we have travelled across the country as part of our searches for this baby.
"We are all truly devastated by the outcome and we know this emotion is also being felt here in Brighton and across the country today.
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East Sussex locals hold candles as they pay tribute to Marten's infant, whose body was found last night (PA)"While there are still many unanswered questions it is important that we give the investigation team the time and space they need to establish more details about the circumstances of this tragic death.
"At this stage we have not yet been able to confirm the baby’s gender and post-mortem examination has not yet taken place.
“Despite this, based on our inquiries we’ve carried out so far, we believe sadly the baby may have been dead for several weeks before they were found.
Police said they were 'truly devastated' by the discovery of the baby's body (PA)“It is too early for us to provide a more specific date.
“Because we believe the death occurred during the course of a missing person investigation we have made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). This is standard protocol for such circumstances."
The IOPC said in a statement that it is “currently assessing the referral to determine what, if any, further action is required from us”.
A vigil being held at St Mary Magdalen Church, Coldean, East Sussex, near to where remains have been found (PA)The warrant for further detention of Marten and Gordon that was granted yesterday is in place until late this evening, he added.
The couple were detained by officers in Brighton, but the child was not with them - sparking a widespread search in the Sussex undergrowth.
Helicopters, sniffer dogs, drones and thermal imaging cameras were all deployed during the two-day operation.
Police activity at the cordoned off scene in woodland close to Brentwood Crescent in Brighton (PA)A note left close to where the baby was found reveals a neighbour allegedly heard crying and regretted not following the noise.
The note reads: "RIP little darling, am so traumatised I should have followed your cries. I will never forget."
This morning, a heavy police presence remained at the scene, where a blue forensic tent was in place.
Teddy bears with a note at a floral tribute on Golf Drive in Brighton (PA)DS Basford said a post-mortem examination would take place in due course.
Marten and Gordon refused to divulge information on the location or welfare of the baby while they were held in custody, leading to the extensive search operation.
Anyone who has information that could support the investigation is urged to call the Met's incident room on 0208 345 3854.
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