Runaway Aristocrat and Partner’s Trial Comes to a Standstill at the Old Bailey

An ongoing trial at the Old Bailey involving Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, accused in the tragic case of their newborn daughter Victoria, has hit a roadblock.

Marten, aged 37, and Gordon, aged 49, faced charges relating to the death of their infant, Victoria, whose lifeless body was discovered in a shed in the Brighton area.

The trial, which commenced back in January, recounted the dramatic events that led to a nationwide search for the couple after their car was found ablaze on the M61 near Bolton in December 2022.

Following a series of events, Marten and Gordon were ultimately apprehended in Brighton, just days before baby Victoria’s remains were recovered from a shed, concealed within a Lidl shopping bag.

At the recent proceedings, Judge Mark Lucraft KC, the Recorder of London, made the decision to discharge the jurors from further deliberations after an extensive 72 and a half hours were spent considering the complex case.

Expressing his gratitude, Judge Lucraft KC commended the jurors for their commitment to public service and declared them exempt from future jury duty for life.

The defendants, Marten and Gordon, linked to no fixed address, vehemently denied charges ranging from manslaughter by gross negligence to perverting the course of justice, concealing a child’s birth, child cruelty, and causing or allowing a child’s death.

A subsequent hearing is anticipated to address the next steps in the legal proceedings, potentially leading to a retrial for Marten and Gordon.