**Chilling Footage Shows Moment Constance Marten Learns Police Found Body of Newborn Daughter**
The harrowing moment Constance Marten was informed that police had recovered the body of her newborn baby, Victoria, has emerged as part of the ongoing investigation into the tragic case that gripped the nation. The revelation came during a police interview, footage of which was later presented as evidence at the Old Bailey, providing a heartbreaking insight into the aftermath of a desperate attempt by Marten and her partner, Mark Gordon, to keep their infant hidden from authorities.
CCTV and bodycam recordings played to the court revealed the painstaking search efforts that ultimately led officers to an allotment shed near Brighton. There, nestled inside a Lidl carrier bag, they found Victoria’s remains, alongside nappies and discarded items, including a used beer can. The couple’s efforts to evade social services, shrouded in secrecy and fear, tragically ended with the discovery of their daughter in these grim circumstances.
During a re-trial at the Central Criminal Court, Marten and Gordon were convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence. This followed earlier convictions for concealing Victoria’s birth and perverting the course of justice. Prosecutors maintained that the parents’ reckless decisions directly contributed to the infant’s death, a stance ultimately upheld by the jury.
Footage from Marten’s police interview painted a deeply distressing picture. Dressed in custody clothing and wrapped in a blue blanket, Marten sat expressionless as officers delicately broke the news of the baby’s discovery. When asked by detectives to confirm the child’s identity, she quietly acknowledged, “Yes, it is.” The emotional toll of the conversation soon became evident as Marten broke down, visibly shaken by the reality of the situation.
Throughout the trial, the prosecution alleged that Marten and Gordon kept Victoria’s body in the shopping bag for days, possibly weeks, after her death. While Marten insisted that her daughter had died on 9 January, the prosecution claimed the infant may have survived for several more weeks before succumbing to exposure or neglect. The precise timeline of Victoria’s death became a focal point in a case defined by secrecy, isolation, and growing desperation.
Central to the prosecution’s case was the assertion that Marten and Gordon, in a bid to prevent authorities from taking custody of their newborn—as had happened with their other children—took Victoria to live off-grid in a tent during the harsh winter. Jurors heard details of their journey, which took them from Liverpool to East Sussex, often travelling by taxi in an attempt to avoid detection. In court, Marten testified that she feared for Victoria’s future, given that her four other children were already in care.
Evidence presented to the jury depicted a bleak picture of the couple’s circumstances. The pair were described as having inadequate shelter and insufficient resources, exposing their child to bitterly cold, damp conditions. Prosecutor Tom Little KC remarked that the tragedy was rooted in a fundamental lack of proper care, stating, “That is a cold hard fact… what happens thereafter is not accidental. It all follows from their total lack of parenting skills and abilities.” He emphasised that Victoria’s death was a breach of their most basic duty as parents.
The trial also heard damning details from Gordon’s past, including a violent history and significant periods of incarceration in the United States for serious offences committed as a youth. His background, alongside previous incidents involving Marten and attempts to resist intervention from social services, added further layers of complexity to the case.
Both Marten and Gordon denied the charges of manslaughter by gross negligence, maintaining that Victoria’s death was a tragic accident rather than a result of wilful neglect. Nonetheless, the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all charges, including child cruelty and concealing a birth. Attempts to appeal their convictions were unsuccessful.
With sentencing scheduled for September, the public’s attention remains fixed on the fate of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon. The case has reignited debate over the role of social services, parental rights versus child protection, and the devastating consequences when vulnerable children slip through the cracks.