Couple jailed over newborn baby's death

ARISTOCRAT Constance Marten and her convicted rapist partner have been jailed for 14 years for killing their newborn baby while on the run.

- EMILY PENNINK

Marten, 38, and Mark Gordon, 51, were in hiding when their baby daughter, Victoria, died in a tent on the South Downs in January 2023.

The defendants had fled authorities to prevent baby Victoria being taken into care, as four other siblings had been before, the Old Bailey had heard.

They were found guilty of her manslaughter, child cruelty, concealing the birth of a child, and perverting the course of justice, after two trials spanning six months each.

Yesterday, Judge Mark Lucraft KC jailed them both for 14 years and handed Gordon a further four years on extended licence.

The judge accepted the prosecution case that baby Victoria died from hypothermia after being exposed to “significant cold stress”.

He rejected the defendants' claims that Victoria was smothered in a “terrible accident” as they slept in the tent.

The offending was made worse because the baby was vulnerable and the defendants failed to listen to past warnings.