Authorities discover Constance Marten’s infant inside a bag filled with garbage.
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Constance Marten, an aristocrat, testified at the Old Bailey as she and her partner Mark Gordon face charges in the death of their infant, Victoria.
During her court appearance on Thursday, the mother stated that she was overwhelmed with panic upon learning of her daughter’s death as she was afraid she would never be reunited with her other children.
The jury was informed that the 36-year-old woman hid her pregnancy and fled with her partner Gordon after their four children were removed from their care. The body of Victoria was discovered in a Lidl bag in an abandoned shed in March of last year.
Marten and Gordon, aged 49, have pleaded not guilty to charges of gross negligence manslaughter of Victoria during the period of 4 January to 27 February of the previous year. During her testimony, Marten emphasized that she only displayed love towards Victoria and was filled with overwhelming sadness upon discovering the lifeless child wrapped in her coat.
The pair’s actions, described as “careless and extremely self-centered,” are said to have resulted in the unnecessary death of their child while they were camping in a tent in harsh winter weather on the South Downs.
The pair has also refuted allegations of obstructing the legal process by hiding the body, as well as hiding the fact of a baby’s birth, engaging in child abuse, and being responsible for a child’s death.
Marten claims that she displayed only love to her infant daughter, who she is being accused of causing harm to.
Constance Marten, who has been accused of gross negligence manslaughter of her newborn, informed the jury that she had not caused any harm to the child. The infant passed away after Marten and the child’s father, Mark Gordon, reportedly lived in a tent in freezing temperatures for several weeks.
During her testimony on Thursday at the Old Bailey, the 36-year-old struggled to hold back her tears as she recounted the loss of her newborn, who she delivered at an Airbnb on Christmas Eve. She stated that this event is one that she will never be able to overcome.
Reporter Amy-Clare Martin provides coverage of crimes from the Old Bailey courthouse.
According to the jurors, the primary concern of the mother was for Victoria when she left the site of the car fire.
Marten expressed her greatest concern for Victoria when she ran away from the area of the vehicle fire in Bolton, abandoning her bag and bank card.
She discarded 34 disposable phones that she claims she utilized to avoid being tracked by hired private investigators, who she alleges were comprised of retired police officers and former Secret Service members.
Marten proceeded to recount her journey from the North West to Essex, during which she was informed by a civilian about the media coverage surrounding them.
She informed the members of the jury that she had been sleep-deprived and was experiencing heightened levels of anxiety.
According to her, Mark and she were in a state of anxiety due to the overwhelming media coverage and uncertainty about how to handle the situation. She was extremely cautious.
According to the court, the individuals relocated to East Ham, located in the eastern part of London, in an attempt to assimilate, but instead experienced the “inverse outcome” which ultimately led them to acquire a tent.
She expressed that they had originally planned to find an apartment in East Ham, but they quickly came to the realization that it was not a feasible option. As their choices were becoming more limited, they eventually decided to get a tent and stay hidden from any potential observers.
Mark Gordon and Constance Marten’s fiery Peugeot 206 on the M61 highway.
The court was informed that the couple had contemplated ending their lives after the loss of their child.
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Marten tearfully confessed to the jury that she and Gordon had contemplated suicide after Victoria’s passing.
The mother revealed that she purchased gasoline and had contemplated cremating the baby, having been inspired by similar funerals in India. However, she ultimately could not bring herself to do it.
She informed the court that at a certain moment, Mark suggested that they both join in and end their relationship.
“Let’s gather around a fire and bid farewell to life together. We had simply reached our breaking point.”
“Amy-Clare Martin, a crime correspondent, attending a court hearing for the defendant Rim.”
7 March 2024 17:30
According to court testimony, Marten was afraid that she would never regain custody of her other children following the death of her baby.
The mother explained to the court that both she and Gordon experienced “countless thoughts” following Victoria’s death.
She informed the jury that she cradled the infant for multiple hours before giving her final words to her daughter. She then wrapped the baby in a black headscarf and placed her in a bag for safekeeping.
“I instantly became anxious and felt helpless. I feared the potential repercussions – from the media, the press, and social services – as she was under my supervision and is now deceased,” she stated.
I became anxious and wondered how I would be able to retrieve my remaining four children after Victoria’s death.
Constance Marten was sheltering baby Victoria beneath her coat.
I am a journalist covering criminal cases, my name is Amy-Clare Martin and I am in the courtroom.
7 March 2024 16:56
Marten is reminded of the time she woke up to discover her baby had passed away while in court.
With a quivering voice, Marten recounted the experience of awakening to discover her infant deceased within her coat.
On January 8th of last year, she shared that baby Victoria was “joyful and satisfied” as they set up a tent in the South Downs.
She woke up to discover that her companion in her jacket had died while she slept.
She informed the jury, “I had my jacket and her with me, but when I woke up, my head was on the floor.”
“I removed her from my jacket. I think I woke up Mark and alerted him, saying ‘Sweetheart, something is not right’.”
However, he refused to believe me and attempted to revive her, despite the fact that she had passed away. He was unwilling to accept her death and continued to try and determine if she could be revived.
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Journalist Amy-Clare Martin reporting from the courtroom said:7 March 2024 16:40
Marten denies carrying her baby in a carrier bag, court told
The mother refused to acknowledge that she had used a Lidl carrier bag to carry her newborn baby, Victoria, while they were on the run.
She mentioned that they had abandoned a stroller and a noticeable red blanket because it revealed the presence of a baby when they were attempting to remain undetected.
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When asked if she had ever transported Victoria in a bag, she replied: “Definitely not.”
She maintained that the child was hidden either under her or Gordon’s coat as they traveled around evading the authorities.
Last March, Victoria’s body was discovered in a Lidl grocery bag inside a vacant shed located on an allotment.
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In court, Amy-Clare Martin reports on crime and weapons.
7 March 2024 15:58
The court was informed that a couple had purchased a tent specifically to avoid being seen by others.
Marten informed the jury that her and Gordon’s plan to secure a flat in East Ham was quickly dashed when they began to be recognized by others.
The court was informed that they were afraid a flat would not provide them with a way to escape if the police showed up at their door looking for Victoria.
“We were running out of choices, so we decided to get a tent and hide from curious onlookers,” she explained.
She emphasized that their main priority was Victoria’s welfare and stated that they provided her with parental love, care, warmth, and food.
The court was informed that the couple were in a state of panic upon discovering they had been featured on the news.
Marten informed the jury that their plans fell apart when their car caught on fire on January 5th of the previous year near Bolton on the M61.
She explained that they journeyed through the land in taxis, making decisions based on “impulse and instinct”, and settling the fare with cash.
She placed the newborn under her coat in a blanket that she fashioned into a sling, she explained.
The pair discovered they had made the news when a man recognized them at a train station in Harwich, Essex.
“When news of our situation broke, we were taken by surprise and immediately felt panicked. We were unsure of how to handle the attention,” she explained to the court. She also shared, “I became extremely alert, believing that our identity was known by everyone.”
She expressed feeling “overwhelmingly anxious” and worried that if they were caught, “the authorities would intervene and remove Victoria from their care.”
Mark Gordon and Constance Marten’s burning Peugeot 206 on the M61
Marten tearfully denies causing harm to any of her five children.
Constance Marten became emotional when she was questioned about whether or not she had caused harm to any of her five children.
According to her, she and Mark prioritize their children above all else and are upset that they had to go through the process. She believes it was inadequate.
When confronted with the accusation that she and Gordon prioritized their own interests over their children, she adamantly denied it, stating, “Absolutely not. I would do anything for my children.”
Constance Marten became emotional when questioned about whether she had caused harm to any of her five children.
“PA Wire photographer captured this image of Elizabeth Cook.”
Jurors were informed that the trust fund of the aristocrat was suddenly terminated during her first pregnancy, but later restored.
The jurors were informed that the noblewoman’s trust fund was suddenly terminated while she was pregnant with her first child. However, by the time of her second pregnancy, she received an allowance of approximately £2,000 each month.
When Marten’s first baby was born in 2017, she stated that she had never considered giving birth in a tent.
Mr FitzGibbon inquired whether the person remembers receiving any guidance regarding the potential danger of falling asleep while breastfeeding a child during that period.
She responded, “I was several months later, while I was staying in the mother and baby unit.”
Marten expressed dissatisfaction with the birth of her first child in the NHS and perceived her interactions with social services as bargaining with the devil.
She lost trust in the advice she received about delivering her second child at home when she was told the baby was too large.
She expressed her panic and shared that she had a private scan done. The results showed no cause for concern, and she was given the go-ahead for a home birth.
Marten also delved into hypnobirth, stating that while he believes it’s important to have scans to ensure the baby’s well-being and positioning, he doesn’t consider midwifery to be essential. He further noted that women become more intuitive after giving birth to their first child.
Source: independent.co.uk
