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Constance Marten trial: Jury retires to consider verdict in baby manslaughter case
The jury in the trial of aristocrat Constance Marten has retired to consider their verdicts following three months of evidence at the Old Bailey.
Marten, 36, and her partner Mark Gordon, 49, have been accused of manslaughter after their daughter Victoria died while they were camping on the South Downs in wintry conditions last January.
In a bid to keep their baby after four previous children were taken into care, the couple had gone on the run and evaded police for nearly two months. Following their arrest, Victoria’s badly decomposed remains were found in a Lidl shopping bag in an allotment shed.
During her evidence, Marten told jurors she had intended to find someone to smuggle them abroad illegally, and claimed her daughter had died in her arms on 9 January after falling asleep in her jacket.
The couple deny charges of gross negligence manslaughter of Victoria between 4 January and 27 February last year, charges of perverting the course of justice by concealing the body, along with concealing the birth of a child, child cruelty, and allowing the death of a child.
Jury have been sent home for the day
The jury in the Old Bailey trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, who are accused over the death of their baby, has been sent home.
Judge Mark Lucraft KC told them to return to resume deliberations on Monday.
Holly Evans30 May 2024 16:30
Jury resumes deliberations
The jury has resumed its deliberations in the Old Bailey trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon who deny manslaughter by gross negligence of their baby daughter Victoria after weeks on the run.
Holly Evans30 May 2024 11:13
Jury have been sent home for the day
The jury in the Old Bailey trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, who are accused over the death of their baby, has been sent home.
Judge Mark Lucraft KC told them to return to resume deliberations next Thursday, 30 May.
Holly Evans23 May 2024 16:32
Jury resumes deliberations
The jury has resumed its deliberations in the Old Bailey trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon who deny manslaughter by gross negligence of their baby daughter Victoria
Holly Evans23 May 2024 12:12
Jury sent home to return on Thursday
The jury in the Old Bailey trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, who are accused over the death of their baby, has been sent home.
Judge Mark Lucraft KC told them to return to resume deliberations at 11.30am on Thursday.
Joe Middleton22 May 2024 16:37
Jury resumes deliberations
The jury has resumed its deliberations in the Old Bailey trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon who deny manslaughter by gross negligence of their baby daughter Victoria
Joe Middleton22 May 2024 10:18
Jury sent home to return on Wednesday
The jury in the Old Bailey trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, who are accused over the death of their baby, has been sent home.
Judge Mark Lucraft KC told them to return to resume deliberations at 9.30am on Wednesday.
Holly Evans21 May 2024 16:15
Jury sent home for the day
The jury have now been sent home after a day of deliberations and will return on Tuesday.
Holly Evans20 May 2024 16:09
Jury resumes deliberations
The jury has resumed its deliberations in the Old Bailey trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon who deny manslaughter by gross negligence of their baby daughter Victoria.
Tom Barnes20 May 2024 13:39
Jury resumes deliberations
The jury has resumed its deliberations in the Old Bailey trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon who deny manslaughter by gross negligence of their baby daughter Victoria
Jurors retired on Monday morning to consider their verdicts after a seven day break.
Holly Evans20 May 2024 10:16