BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford and news correspondent Helena Wilkinson report on the retrial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon at the Old Bailey. Marten expressed her love for her baby daughter and insisted that they did everything to protect her. She also referred to her four other children being taken by the state and criticized her family as “bigoted.”
The couple faced charges of gross negligence manslaughter and causing or allowing the death of a child. In the previous trial, they were found guilty of concealing the birth of their baby and not reporting her death. The body of their deceased baby, Victoria, was discovered in a Brighton shed in a shopping bag covered with rubbish. Pathologists were unable to determine the cause of death due to advanced decomposition.
During her testimony, Marten affirmed her love for her children and denied causing any harm to her daughter. She expressed difficulty in grieving properly and criticized the state for taking away her children, labeling it as an “outrage.” Marten shared her desire to have a large family and recollected her meeting with Gordon, whom she described as dear to her.
Marten revealed details about their life leading up to Victoria’s birth, including their attempts to move abroad and the challenges they faced. The couple resorted to living in temporary accommodations and tried to evade authorities and family members. Marten defended their actions, stating that they acted out of love and the desire to protect their daughter. As the trial continues, Gordon chose not to provide evidence in his defense
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