Couple on run were to blame for baby's death retrial hears

A wealthy aristocrat and her partner caused the "entirely avoidable" death of their baby daughter through their "reckless" and "grossly negligent" conduct while on the run to evade authorities, a retrial has heard.

- Caroline Davies

Constance Marten, 37, and Mark Gordon, 50, of no fixed abode, deny manslaughter of their newborn by gross negligence and a second charge of causing or allowing the death of a child between 4 January and 27 February 2023.

The retrial at the Old Bailey in London was told the couple allegedly kept the birth secret after four older children were taken into care.

Tom Little KC, prosecuting, told jurors the case "involves the entirely avoidable death of a young baby. A young baby girl who undoubtedly would still be alive if it was not for the reckless and ultimately grossly negligent conduct of the two defendants.

"They were the parents of that young baby girl, but they put their relationship and their views of life before the life of that little baby girl."

The court heard that the couple went on the run with the baby after their car burst into flames on a motorway in Greater Manchester on 5 January 2023.