In a poignant and deeply emotional testimony, Constance Marten, a 37-year-old woman at the center of a harrowing legal case, has asserted to the jury that she “absolutely” loved her baby daughter, Victoria. During her retrial at the Old Bailey alongside her partner Mark Gordon, 50, Marten expressed that both she and Gordon dedicated themselves to protecting their newborn. The couple faces serious charges, specifically gross negligence manslaughter and causing or allowing the death of a child, after Victoria was tragically found dead in a Brighton allotment in March 2023.
Marten’s testimony marks a crucial point in the retrial, where she seems determined to clarify the nature of her feelings and actions concerning her child’s death. Addressing the jury for the first time, she responded affirmatively when asked if she loved Victoria, stating, “Absolutely.” Marten then vehemently denied causing any harm to her daughter, confidently asserting, “We did everything we could to protect her.” Her comments reflect a profound sense of loss and frustration, particularly when discussing the death of Victoria and the circumstances that led to it. According to Marten, the ongoing legal processes have impeded her ability to grieve; she expressed feelings of anger, sadness, and shock, indicating that she has not yet processed her daughter’s death in a meaningful way.
Moreover, Marten’s testimony brought forward the emotional weight of her familial relationships. She expressed deep love for her other children, who were taken into care prior to Victoria’s birth, and vehemently rejected the actions of the state in what she described as a theft of her children. Marten characterized her family as “bigoted” and distanced herself from them, providing insight into her complicated upbringing. She outlined how her desire for a large family—at least seven children—coupled with her past experiences, shaped her aspirations for motherhood and family life.
Her recounting of her relationship with Mark Gordon sheds light on their journey together over the past decade, beginning with their chance encounter in a shop in East London. Marten conveyed a deep affinity for Gordon, describing her love for him and his significant role in her life. However, this relationship, fraught with challenges, was also impacted by her family’s coldness toward him and their life choices.
Marten detailed the chaotic circumstances surrounding her and Gordon’s life leading up to Victoria’s birth. After planning to move abroad, which was thwarted by family intervention, the couple ended up living in a series of temporary accommodations. Detail after detail emerged, including their shopping trip on Christmas Eve before the baby was born, which highlighted the extraordinary and precarious conditions under which Marten gave birth—without medical assistance—while staying in a rental cottage in Northumberland.
Their subsequent actions following the birth have attracted scrutiny, with Marten explaining that upon their arrival at a hotel in Harwich, Essex, they used fictitious names to avoid detection. Her motivations stemmed from a blend of fear and the instinct to keep her family together, compounded by thoughts of travel restrictions. Marten defended their choices as born from love, though she also clarified that, given the knowledge of what was to come, she would have made different decisions.
The retrial is ongoing and is marked by its emotional intensity, reflecting both the profound grief of a mother and the legal battles related to the tragic loss of a child. Marten’s testimony is pivotal, encapsulating the struggles not just of a couple facing grave accusations, but of a mother grappling with the complexities of love, loss, and the impact of systemic interventions in her life and the lives of her children. The jury is left to consider not only the facts of the case but the compelling human emotions underlying these tragic events.