Constance Marten and Mark Gordon had the potential to be loving and nurturing parents when they chose to be.
A family judge noted their interactions with their children were “excellent,” displaying a “loving and attentive” demeanor.
However, a widely publicized court case revealed a starkly different scenario, illustrating a couple so absorbed in their relationship and distrustful of outside authorities that they neglected their child’s care.
Recently, Marten and Gordon were convicted of manslaughter after their newborn daughter, Victoria, was discovered dead in a grocery bag inside an abandoned shed. Sentencing is expected later this year.
Victoria’s body was found on March 1, 2023, merely two days after her parents’ arrest, following a 53-day search.
The couple had moved around the UK with their newborn, often residing in a tent despite harsh winter conditions, to avoid detection by authorities.
They feared losing Victoria, following the removal of their previous four children into foster care, as stated by the Metropolitan Police in a post-conviction statement.
Prioritizing Their Relationship
Constance, 38, hailed from an affluent family with connections to royalty. Educated privately, she traveled extensively in Africa and worked as a journalist at Al Jazeera.
She met 51-year-old Gordon, whom she described as her “soulmate,” at a London incense shop in 2014, with their relationship beginning in 2016.
Gordon, significantly older, has a substantial criminal history that includes serious sexual violence offenses committed in his youth. Court documents reveal he was convicted of armed sexual battery, kidnapping, and other crimes in 1989, serving 22 years in prison before his release in 2010.
Their relationship reportedly included instances of domestic violence. For example, during a 2019 argument, Gordon allegedly pushed Marten out of a window while she was pregnant, causing severe injuries without seeking medical help.
Ignoring warnings from child protection officials regarding their children’s welfare, a judge in January 2022 deemed that the couple prioritized their relationship over their children’s well-being, leading to the custody of their four children being handed to authorities.
By late December 2022, while expecting their fifth child, the couple fled.
A Search Ignited
In January 2023, police launched a nationwide search after finding a placenta in a burnt-out vehicle, prompting concerns about the well-being of both Marten and her baby.
Subsequently, the couple traveled across the UK, using taxis to escape scrutiny, which cost hundreds of pounds. Marten had approximately £19,000 (around $25,000) in her bank account by the time of her arrest.
Surveillance footage captured them in a hotel with a baby concealed under Marten’s coat. Following a purchase of an oversized stroller, they discarded it in an alley and transferred the baby Victoria to a grocery bag.
The couple resided in a tent near Brighton despite freezing temperatures, disregarding advice from social workers emphasizing the inappropriateness of such a living situation for an infant.
After being spotted in a store on February 27, 2023, the couple was arrested, but Victoria was missing. Roadside interviews revealed Marten’s evasiveness regarding her child’s whereabouts.
Two days later, Victoria’s decomposing body was located in a shed in a community garden. While the exact cause of death could not be confirmed, Marten later informed the police that Victoria died while they were sleeping.
The Crown Prosecution Service indicated it was uncertain about the timeline of Victoria’s birth and death, but she likely endured weeks of exposure to the cold, as seen in CCTV footage that showed her inadequately dressed.
Chaotic Court Proceedings
The trial at London’s Old Bailey was marked by disruption, with both defendants frequently causing delays and failing to attend court sessions.
At one point, Marten inadvertently revealed details of Gordon’s prior rape conviction, which the court had sought to keep confidential for fairness.
Throughout the trials, Marten had representation from 14 barristers, while Gordon moved to represent himself toward the end of the proceedings.
A retrial followed after the initial jury could not unanimously decide on the manslaughter charges, though they were found guilty of child cruelty. The recent verdict confirmed their guilt concerning gross negligence manslaughter.
Judge Mark Lucraft expressed his astonishment at the couple’s attitude in court, emphasizing the disorder displayed compared to other defendants.
The Chief Crown Prosecutor remarked on the couple’s apparent lack of remorse and their actions which obstructed judicial processes, indicating that Victoria’s death was a preventable tragedy directly resulting from her parents’ choices.
Detective Inspector Dave Sinclair emphasized the avoidable nature of the tragedy, noting that help could have changed the outcome for Victoria.
