Wealthy Mum and Partner on Trial for Baby’s Death After ‘Reckless’ Run from Authorities

A wealthy mum-of-five has gone on trial alongside her partner, accused of causing the tragic death of their baby after going on the run and living off-grid. Constance Marten and Mark Gordon’s baby, Victoria, “would still be alive” if not for their “reckless” actions, a jury at the Old Bailey heard today as the retrial into the baby’s death got underway, reported BBC.

The court was told that the couple fled with their newborn after their car caught fire on the M61 near Bolton. Rather than seek help, they embarked on a desperate journey across England, moving from place to place in taxis, spending thousands of pounds on travel and one-night stays in hotels, despite not having ID.

Prosecutors revealed that social services had already taken their first four children, who have since been adopted. Marten, 37, and Gordon, 50, have already been found guilty of perverting the course of justice and concealing the birth of a child. Now, they are facing charges of manslaughter by gross negligence and causing or allowing the death of a child—charges they both deny, according to the Lancs Live.

Opening the case, prosecutor Mark Little QC told the jury that Marten came from a privileged background, with access to a trust fund, meaning she had the resources to provide a safe environment for her baby. Instead, she and Gordon chose to live off-grid, purchasing only “a thin flimsy tent, two sleeping bags, and two pillows” while continuing to spend heavily on taxis and old cars to evade authorities.

The couple stayed on the run for more than six weeks, moving from one place to another while exposing their baby to freezing conditions. CCTV footage showed them “sopping wet”, while baby Victoria was seen without even a hat to protect her from the cold.

Mr Little told the jury that instead of acting in the baby’s “obvious best interests”, the couple ignored warnings and denied their newborn “warmth, shelter, protection, food, and ultimately safety” in the depths of winter. He described how their desperation grew as their faces appeared on front-page news, increasing the risk to the child.

The court also heard how, after Victoria’s death in January 2023, the couple did not turn themselves in. Instead, they remained in hiding for weeks, carrying their baby’s body in a shopping bag covered with rubbish before abandoning it in a disused shed.

Gordon was not in the dock with Marten, though jurors were told he may join the trial later via video link. The judge warned the jury not to conduct their own research or “jump to any conclusions” before hearing all the evidence.