Marten baby found hidden in allotment shed
Child named in court papers as Victoria, as couple appear to answer manslaughter charge
THE body of a baby found in the search for Constance Marten’s child was wrapped in a plastic bag inside a shed a court heard yesterday, as it was revealed the infant had been named Victoria.
Ms Marten and her partner Mark Gordon were remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with manslaughter, concealing the birth of a baby and perverting the course of justice.
The baby was named Victoria on the court indictment. Scotland Yard confirmed the baby was a girl, and added that a post mortem examination had failed to establish a cause of death. Further tests will be carried out.
Crawley magistrates’ court was told the body of the baby was discovered at an allotment on the edge of the South Downs on Wednesday, following a huge search operation around Brighton.
The court heard Ms Marten, 35, and Mr Gordon, 48, had been travelling around the country from Jan 5, when their abandoned car was discovered near Bolton, Lancs.
The couple, both in grey tracksuits issued to them after their arrest, were led into the dock by three security guards for the 40-minute hearing.
Mr Gordon, who has a leg injury and was seen on CCTV using a stick before his arrest, was able to walk unaided.
At one point, Ms Marten leant across the two security guards between them to touch Mr Gordon’s hand. As the hearing began, he draped the sweatshirt over his head.
Ms Marten, who comes from an aristocratic family, was represented by Lewis Power KC, one of the country’s most renowned lawyers. Mr Gordon was represented by Brighton-based solicitor Teresa Blades. No bail application was made, but Mr Power told the court one was likely to be submitted in the near future.
Ms Marten and Mr Gordon were remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on March 31.
The couple were originally charged with gross negligence manslaughter, but this was changed to manslaughter when they appeared in court.
During the hearing, they spoke only to confirm their names, dates of birth and that they were of no fixed address.
The couple were arrested on Monday close to where the baby was found and held for questioning before being charged on Thursday evening.
Det Supt Lewis Basford of the Metropolitan Police said: “We believe the baby had been dead for several weeks before they were found. It’s too early for us to provide a more specific date.”
Fears had grown over the baby’s safety since the last previous sighting of the couple in Newhaven on Jan 8, when temperatures were below zero.
Many residents had responded to police appeals to search sheds and greenhouses for any signs of the baby in the weeks before it was found.
Danielle Mansell, 32, and her 11-yearold daughter left flowers and a teddy at an impromptu shrine close to the spot where the b aby was found.
She said: “It’s just a sign of respect. I felt someone had ripped my heart out when I heard. I’m just glad that the baby has now been found and can be laid to rest.”
After the discovery of the body, residents put candles in their windows in the nearby roads in memory of the baby.