Devendra Kumar
Constance Marten and her partner Mark Gordon were arrested and accused of concealing the birth and neglecting their newborn daughter Victoria, whose lifeless body was found in a supermarket bag. The couple had been evading police after their car was discovered abandoned on a motorway with a placenta inside. During their arrests, Marten refused to answer questions and referred to Gordon as “Daddy Bear”, while Gordon was more concerned with demanding food and drink.
Police Sergeant Robert Button, who was involved in the arrests, described Marten as having a strong and unpleasant odor, which he attributed to her wearing furniture stuffing for insulation. Both Marten and Gordon had a distinctive smell, similar to that of homeless people, he observed. The police’s efforts to locate the couple were extensive, involving a member of the public who spotted them on the street and reported it to the authorities.
When asked about Victoria’s whereabouts, Gordon replied with a question of his own, “What’s the big deal?” prompting officers to remind him of the urgency in finding the child. Despite their efforts to persuade him, Gordon continued to eat and did not provide any information about Victoria’s whereabouts. In fact, he seemed more interested in the snacks being offered to him, including chicken and crisps, which he described as “really good”. The couple’s apparent lack of concern for their daughter’s lifeless body is chilling and raises questions about their state of mind.
The trial, which continues, has been a sensational and distressing affair, with footage of the couple’s arrests and interviews with the police providing a graphic account of the events surrounding Victoria’s death. The defendants deny the manslaughter of Victoria, and their charges include perverting the course of justice, concealing the birth of a child, child cruelty, and causing or allowing the death of a child. As the trial unfolds, it is likely to shed more light on the circumstances surrounding Victoria’s death and the motivations of her parents.