Constance Marten and partner Mark Gordon were convicted of gross negligence manslaughter after their newborn daughter, Victoria, died while they were living off-grid in a flimsy tent. The couple had concealed Marten's pregnancy and had previously had four children removed by family courts. They traveled with the newborn hidden in Marten's coat after their car caught fire on the M61 and later settled in the South Downs with minimal shelter. Separate convictions included concealing the birth, child cruelty and perverting the course of justice for hiding the baby's body in a rubbish-filled shopping bag. Marten has lodged a fresh application to appeal her manslaughter conviction.
Their first four children had been removed by a family court a decision which the parents claimed was a miscarriage of justice driven by a corrupt social services system. She gave birth in secret in a holiday cottage before they frantically travelled the country with the baby hidden inside Marten's coat at first by road and later in taxis paid for with cash from her trust fund after their car caught fire on the M61.
In a separate trial last year, the couple were also found guilty of concealing their daughter's birth, child cruelty and perverting the course of justice by hiding her body in a rubbish-filled plastic shopping bag. An appeal bid following their first trial was previously rejected. However Marten, 38, has now lodged a fresh application at the Court of Appeal seeking permission to appeal her manslaughter conviction,
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