Constance Marten and Mark Gordon were found guilty of manslaughter in the death of their newborn daughter, Victoria, who died in a tent on the South Downs. After traveling across England while on the run from authorities, their baby was discovered dead inside a Lidl bag near a disused shed. The prosecution indicated that Victoria died from hypothermia or smothering. The couple had previously faced charges related to their attempts to conceal her birth and were convicted of child cruelty. The arrest marked the end of a nationwide manhunt after a car fire prompted police involvement.
Following a desperate search, police found their baby dead amid rubbish inside a Lidl bag in a disused shed nearby. Victoria's remains were too badly decomposed to establish the cause of death.
The prosecution said she died from hypothermia in the cold and damp conditions inside the flimsy tent or was smothered. The defendants claimed their daughter's death was a tragic accident after Marten fell asleep on her.
Today's verdict reflects the tragic consequences of the couple's decision to live off grid. Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford noted, 'the selfish actions of Mark Gordon and Constance Marten resulted in the death of a newborn baby.'
Jurors decided that the couple's actions, which included going on the run and avoiding authorities, directly contributed to the circumstances leading to Victoria's death.
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