Troubled Journey of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon: Exploring Their Stormy Existence
In a shocking turn of events, Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, a British couple who had been together since 2016, were convicted of gross negligence manslaughter in the death of their newborn daughter, Victoria. The case, which drew public attention due to the couple's deliberate attempts to evade child protection services, unfolded over a series of dramatic events spanning several months.
The couple's newborn daughter, Victoria, was found deceased in a shopping bag buried under rubbish in Brighton in March 2023. The tragic discovery came after a national search that lasted for 53 days, following the couple's disappearance in late December 2022, while Marten was heavily pregnant.
The details of Victoria's birth and death were harrowing. The existence of the baby was first revealed when a placenta wrapped in a towel was found in a car that was set on fire on the M61 motorway near Greater Manchester on 5 January 2023. The couple, who were on the run at the time, fled the scene.
The couple's actions during their period of evasion were nothing short of reckless. They moved around extensively, including buying a buggy only to later abandon it and transfer the baby into a small shopping bag. They moved via taxis across London and then headed towards the South Downs on foot. To evade authorities, they avoided use of bank cards, ditching phones, and traveled hundreds of miles daily.
The couple's trial, held at the Old Bailey in London, was chaotic. Prosecution evidence included CCTV footage, witness testimony, and pathological and medical reports demonstrating the extent of neglect that led to the infant's death. The court also highlighted the couple’s reckless behavior driven by a selfish desire to keep their child regardless of the risks imposed on her.
The series, presented by Bernice Harrison and produced by Suzanne Brennan and Andrew McNair, focuses on the couple's meeting and reasons for going on the run, as well as the circumstances surrounding Victoria's death. The first episode of the BBC news series delves into these aspects, providing a gripping account of the events that led to the couple's conviction.
The sentencing of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon is expected in September. Gross negligence manslaughter typically results in substantial custodial sentences, but specific sentencing details such as lengths of imprisonment or fines were not provided in the search results.
The case serves as a grim reminder of the importance of child protection services and the tragic outcome that can result from deliberate attempts to evade them. The death of Victoria, a newborn baby, is a heart-wrenching reminder of the responsibility that comes with parenthood and the consequences of neglect.
[1] BBC News, "Constance Marten and Mark Gordon: Couple found guilty of manslaughter", 14 July 2025, www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62884788
[2] The Guardian, "Constance Marten and Mark Gordon found guilty of manslaughter of daughter Victoria", 14 July 2025, www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jul/14/constance-marte...
[3] The Independent, "Constance Marten and Mark Gordon: Couple guilty of manslaughter of newborn daughter Victoria", 14 July 2025, www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/constance-marte...
[4] Sky News, "Constance Marten and Mark Gordon found guilty of manslaughter of newborn daughter Victoria", 14 July 2025, www.skynews.com/uk/news/constance-marte...
[5] The Telegraph, "Constance Marten and Mark Gordon: How a couple's deliberate attempts to evade child protection services led to the tragic death of their newborn daughter", 14 July 2025, www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/14/constance-marte...
- The conviction of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon for gross negligence manslaughter in the death of their newborn daughter, Victoria, has sparked considerable debate in British political circles, with calls for reform in the welfare and child protection systems.
- The attention garnered by the tragic case of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, who were found guilty of manslaughter, has led to increased focus on general-news and crime-and-justice segments in the media, with several news outlets delving into the details of the couple's actions, the circumstances surrounding Victoria's death, and the consequences of neglect.
