Overview

• Constance Marten and Mark Gordon are on trial at the Old Bailey for gross negligence manslaughter in the death of their newborn daughter, Victoria, in early 2023.
• Marten testified that she and Gordon moved frequently to prevent Victoria from being taken into state care, citing the removal of her four older children by social services.
• The prosecution alleges Victoria died from hypothermia or smothering while living in a tent on the South Downs, with her body later found in a Brighton shed.
• Marten denied causing harm, stating she “absolutely loved” Victoria and did “everything” to protect her, but acknowledged the difficulty of grieving during the trial process.
• The couple had previously been convicted of concealing Victoria’s birth and perverting the course of justice, with Gordon electing not to testify in the retrial.