Aristocrat lived 'off grid' in midwinter before 'killing baby' no one knew about
An aristocrat and her boyfriend accused of killing their newborn baby camped “off the grid” in the middle of winter with the child, a court has heard.
Constance Marten, 35, and Mark Gordon, 48, fled from authorities with their baby daughter Victoria between January 5 and February 27 this year. A police manhunt was launched amid concern for the safety of the newborn - who had been delivered without a doctor or any medical equipment.
Officers eventually caught up with the couple and arrested them. However, their worst fears were confirmed when they found the baby in a plastic bag, in a shed, under a heap of nappies on an allotment in Brighton.
The couple are charged with the manslaughter of Victoria by gross negligence, concealment of the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice. They are also charged with child cruelty and causing or allowing the death of a child between 4 January and 27 February.
Constance Marten (Getty Images)
Mark Gordon (Getty Images)Marten appeared at the Old Bailey today in a white floral blouse wearing red lipstick. Prosecutor Joel Smith said: “Her pregnancy was hidden not only from medical professionals but friends and family. After a surreptitious birth the pair decided to live off grid and that culminated with the decision to live with a baby who was weeks old in a tent in rural Sussex in the middle of winter.”
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Marten today applied for bail but Judge Mark Lucraft, KC, the Recorder of London, refused and she remains remanded in custody. Hundreds of officers from the Metropolitan Police and Sussex Police, as well as search and rescue volunteers, scoured 90 square miles of land in the search for the baby.
The couple were caught on CCTV wearing heavy outdoor clothing, carrying bags down the street, before they were arrested. They were reported missing on 5 January after their car caught fire on the M61, near Bolton.
It is thought Marten had given birth just a few days before and had not been assessed by medical professionals. Over the following days, there were sightings of them in a number of places, including Liverpool, Essex, south London and East Sussex.
Constance Marten leaves Crawley Magistrates Court charged with gross negligence manslaughter and concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)The couple had been sleeping rough in a blue tent and had avoided being traced by the police by only making payments in cash and booking hotels using false names. Earlier prosecutor Jeremy King told the court the baby's placenta was found in an abandoned car on 5 January this year with Marten's passport next to it.
He said: “Ms Marten has been in a relationship with Gordon since 2015 and a national missing person campaign was launched since 27 February with both parties staying in and around hotels in the UK using taxis to get around.
“Including Whitechapel where they were caught using camping equipment. They were caught in Sussex last and arrested on 27 February this year. When arrested and taken into custody for these matters, they initially refused to answer any questions asked by police. A search was undertaken of the area of the campsite where a plot of allotments in the Brighton area. Wrapped in a plastic bag under a sheet of nappies in a shed, a baby was found inside.”
Mark Gordon is led out of Crawley Police Station (PA)Marten was born to a wealthy family and grew up at Dorset estate Crichel House and her grandmother was a playmate of Princess Margaret. The promising drama student met Gordon in 2016 and they led a nomadic lifestyle after leaving their home in southeast London last September.
Marten's estranged father Napier Marten is a former page to Queen Elizabeth II and her mother was the Queen Mother's goddaughter. Marten worked as a freelance photographer before starting her drama course, and dropped out when she met Gordon.
Mr Marten and her mother Virginie de Selliers made public pleas for Constance's whereabouts through the media while police offered a £10,000 reward for information leading to the couple being found.
Marten and Gordon will next appear for a mention hearing to consider custody time limits on 25 August. A four-to-six week trial date has been set for 2 January 2024.
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