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Constance Marten trial – latest updates: jury retires to consider verdict for couple accused of manslaughter

Posted on by angelo

Constance Marten, 36, and her partner Mark Gordon, 49
Constance Marten, 36, and her partner Mark Gordon, 49 (PA Media)

The jury in the trial of aristocrat Constance Marten received a majority decision from the judge.

Marten, 36, and his partner Mark Gordon, 49, were charged with manslaughter after their daughter Victoria died while camping on the South Downs in wintry conditions last January.

In what they said was an attempt to keep their baby after four of their previous children had been taken into care, the couple had fled and evaded police for almost two months. After their arrest, Victoria’s badly decomposed remains were found in a Lidl bag in a family shed.

The couple deny charges of gross negligence manslaughter against Victoria between January 4 and February 27 last year, charges of perverting the course of justice by concealing the body, as well as concealing the birth of a child, cruelty to children and permitting the death of a child. .

On June 3, Judge Mark Lucraft KC gave a majority decision to the Old Bailey’s 10 jurors, saying he would accept verdicts on which nine of them agreed.

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The jury retires for a few weeks

The jury in the Old Bailey trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon has been sent home for a few weeks.

Judge Mark Lucraft KC told them to return to resume deliberations on June 17.

The two men both deny the manslaughter by gross negligence of their little daughter Victoria after weeks on the run.

Crime correspondent Amy-Clare Martin at the Old BaileyJune 3, 2024 4:54 p.m.

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The jury receives a majority orientation

The jury in the trial of fugitive mother Constance Marten has received a majority decision.

Wealthy aristocrat Marten, 37, and her partner Mark Gordon, 49, are charged over the death of their daughter Victoria, who died after going off-grid in the South Downs.

The couple had fled authorities in January 2023 in an attempt to keep their newborn baby after four other children were taken into care, the Old Bailey trial heard.

They were arrested in Brighton on February 27, 2023, two days before Victoria’s decomposing body was found in a Lidl bag in a disused shed.

The defendants, of no fixed address, deny manslaughter by gross negligence, perverting the course of justice, concealing the birth of a child, cruelty to children and causing or permitting the death of a child.

The jury deliberated for around sixty hours.

At 12:30 p.m. Monday, Judge Mark Lucraft KC gave the 10-member jury a majority decision, saying it would accept verdicts on which nine of them agreed.

Sam RkainaJune 3, 2024 2:19 p.m.

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The jury resumes its deliberations

The jury has resumed deliberations in the Old Bailey trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon.

The two men both deny the manslaughter by gross negligence of their little daughter Victoria after weeks on the run.

Tara CobhamJune 3, 2024 10:30 a.m.

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The jury was sent home for the day

The jury in the Old Bailey trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, accused of the death of their baby, has been sent home.

Judge Mark Lucraft KC told them to return Monday to resume deliberations.

Holly EvansMay 30, 2024 4:30 p.m.

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The jury resumes its deliberations

The jury has resumed deliberations in the Old Bailey trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, who deny the gross negligence manslaughter of their baby daughter Victoria after weeks on the run.

Holly EvansMay 30, 2024 11:13

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The jury was sent home for the day

The jury in the Old Bailey trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, accused of the death of their baby, has been sent home.

Judge Mark Lucraft KC told them to return to resume deliberations next Thursday, May 30.

Holly EvansMay 23, 2024 4:32 p.m.

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The jury resumes its deliberations

The jury has resumed deliberations in the Old Bailey trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon who deny the gross negligence manslaughter of their baby daughter Victoria.

Holly EvansMay 23, 2024 12:12

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Jury sent home to return Thursday

The jury in the Old Bailey trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, accused of the death of their baby, has been sent home.

Judge Mark Lucraft KC told them to return Thursday to resume deliberations at 11:30 a.m.

Joe MiddletonMay 22, 2024 4:37 p.m.

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The jury resumes its deliberations

The jury has resumed deliberations in the Old Bailey trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon who deny the gross negligence manslaughter of their baby daughter Victoria.

Joe MiddletonMay 22, 2024 10:18

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Jury sent home to return Wednesday

The jury in the Old Bailey trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, accused of the death of their baby, has been sent home.

Judge Mark Lucraft KC told them to return Wednesday to resume deliberations at 9:30 a.m.

Holly EvansMay 21, 2024 4:15 p.m.