June 19th 2024.
The trial for Constance Marten and her boyfriend Mark Gordon began in January, with the expectation that it would only last four to six weeks. The couple, who come from an aristocratic background, were facing a retrial after a jury at the Old Bailey was unable to reach a verdict in the case. The charges against them related to the death of their baby daughter, Victoria, who was found deceased inside a Lidl bag on an allotment in Brighton, East Sussex in March of last year.
Despite their denials, Marten, 37, and Gordon, 50, were accused of killing their infant daughter and covering up the evidence. The trial, which began in January, was expected to conclude within a matter of weeks. However, the jury deliberations lasted much longer than anticipated, with breaks of up to two weeks at a time. Finally, after over 72 hours of deliberation, the judge, Mark Lucraft, KC, the Recorder of London, made the decision to discharge the jury.
Addressing the jurors, Judge Lucraft expressed his gratitude for their commitment to public service and their dedication to the case. He also made the decision to excuse them from jury service for the rest of their lives, due to their outstanding level of dedication since the start of the trial. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will now have to decide whether to pursue a retrial, with a decision expected within the next two weeks.
Marten appeared in court wearing a blue blouse and black trousers, while Gordon was dressed in a blue shirt. They sat separated by a dock officer as the jury was discharged. The case had garnered significant media attention, with a high-profile search for the missing baby and the couple's subsequent arrests in Brighton last February. The child's body was eventually found days later, leading to the charges against Marten and Gordon.
The couple were each facing charges of manslaughter by gross negligence, causing or allowing the death of a child, concealing the birth of a child, child cruelty, and perverting the course of justice. In the latest news from London, there have been reports of dive-bombing crows causing havoc in the streets, a flight from London to the US being forced to turn back after nine hours, and financial expert Martin Lewis warning renters in the city that they may be owed thousands of pounds. Stay updated on all the latest news from the capital by visiting The Agency's London news hub. Despite the charges against them, Marten and Gordon have maintained their innocence and continue to deny all counts.
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