In a case that has gripped public attention, Constance Marten is currently seeking permission to appeal her recent conviction for gross negligence manslaughter. The application was officially acknowledged by the Court of Appeal, which means the situation is set to unfold further in a legal context. This request comes in light of a deeply troubling incident that saw the lifeless body of her baby girl, Victoria, discovered in a decomposed state within a shopping bag in Brighton, a coastal city in England, back in 2023.
Marten, who is 38 years old, along with her partner, Mark Gordon, aged 51, faced a jury at the Old Bailey, where they were found guilty following a protracted retrial. Notably, the trial judge alleged that the defendants attempted to “sabotage” and “manipulate” the justice process during the proceedings. This verdict was not the first for Marten; her initial appeal regarding a conviction of child cruelty from a prior trial was turned down in February 2025, indicating a challenging legal path ahead.
The complexity of this case was amplified during the initial trial, where both Marten and Gordon were found guilty of concealing the birth of their child and misleading justice by failing to report the baby’s death. Subsequent to the initial jury’s inability to render a decision regarding the manslaughter charge, the Crown Prosecution Service sought a retrial.
While pathologists remain uncertain about the specific cause of baby Victoria’s death, it has been suggested that she may have succumbed to hypothermia or possibly smothering, attributed to the conditions in which the couple was living. At the time, they were residing in a small, thin tent exposed to cold, damp, and windy weather in January 2023. The couple contends that Victoria’s death was simply a tragic accident, asserting that Marten had fallen asleep while holding the infant.
Prior to their apprehension, Marten and Gordon had gone to great lengths to evade law enforcement, primarily out of fear that their newborn would be taken from them, given that their four other children had already been placed into care. It was a harrowing search that lasted 53 days, during which evidence from a burnt-out vehicle near Bolton hinted at the recent birth of a child. Their attempts to remain under the radar included sleeping outdoors and utilizing face coverings and assumed identities, showcasing their desperation and degree of planning.
The couple was eventually located, and shortly thereafter, on February 29, 2023, two days following their arrest, officers discovered baby Victoria’s body concealed in an allotment shed located in the Hollingbury area of Brighton. This revelation added further gravity to an already heart-wrenching scenario. During the sentencing moments following their conviction for manslaughter, Marten and Gordon’s reaction was notable; they chose not to stand before the judge, with Marten visibly shaking her head in disagreement and sighing heavily in discontent.
Their sentencing is imminent, scheduled for September 15, marking a significant moment not only for Marten and Gordon but also for society as it reflects on the broader implications of parental responsibility and judicial accountability. In the wake of this deeply troubling matter, the public and legal observers are keenly interested in how the appeal process will develop and whether any new evidence or arguments could potentially alter the course of justice for the convicted pair.
As the case continues to evolve, the discussions surrounding the conviction and the tragic circumstances that led to it question the societal responsibilities surrounding parenthood, social services interventions, and the justice system’s ability to provide fair trials in the face of charged emotional cases. The ongoing saga of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities inherent in legal disputes involving familial welfare and the dire consequences of action and inaction in such critical scenarios.
