Justice Served: Couple Convicted of Gross Negligence Manslaughter of Baby After Two-Year Manhunt

A lengthy and chaotic retrial at the Old Bailey has come to an end with the conviction of Constance Marten, 38, and Mark Gordon, 51, for the manslaughter of their baby, Victoria. The couple was found guilty on Monday, following a trial that the judge accused them of attempting to "sabotage" and "derail."

The jury decided that the couple's behavior had been exceptionally poor and fell below the standard of reasonably competent parents. The prosecution argued that Marten and Gordon made a conscious decision to not keep Victoria safe, and their actions were deliberate.

Central to the prosecution's case was that Victoria died from hypothermia or by being smothered while co-sleeping in a small, thin tent in cold, damp, and windy conditions in January 2023. Pathologists are still unsure of the exact cause of death.

The couple went on the run to avoid the authorities and keep Victoria, their fifth child together, with their four other children having been previously taken into care. The chaotic lives of the couple, marked by endless delays, disrespect for the judge, and disruptive behavior, were documented throughout the trial.

During the trial, the jurors learned about Marten's privileged upbringing in a wealthy family and Gordon's conviction for rape in Florida in 1989 when he was 14. This conviction was not disclosed during the first trial but was revealed during the second trial.

Both Marten and Gordon refused to stand as the jury delivered its unanimous verdict on Monday. Marten shook her head and sighed, while Gordon sat with his eyes closed and his head resting back on the wall. Gordon also told the judge following the verdicts that he planned to "win on appeal" and described it as an "unfair trial."

The sentencing for Marten and Gordon is scheduled for September. The couple's case was highly unusual, from their disruptive and unpredictable behavior to the endless delays caused by their absence from court.

Speaking after the conclusion of the trial, chief prosecutor Jaswant Narwal said the defendants had shown "little remorse for their actions" and had used "different antics to frustrate and delay court proceedings." He expressed hope that the convictions would provide a sense of justice and comfort to all affected by this tragic case.

Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, who led the search for the couple, said Victoria's death was "completely avoidable" and that the couple had many opportunities to "do the right thing and... ask for help."

The case gained significant attention in 2023 when officers found evidence of a recent birth in a burnt-out car near Bolton. The couple slept outside and took steps to avoid detection, including covering their faces when in public. They were found on February 27, 2023, and Victoria was discovered dead two days later in an allotment shed in the Hollingbury area of Brighton. She had died in a tent in the South Downs in January that year.