Constance Marten and Mark Gordon: aristocrat and boyfriend charged by police after remains of baby found

Searchers are continuing to scour an East Sussex woodland after an infant’s remains were discovered on Wednesday night.
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Constance Marten and Mark Gordon have both been charged with gross negligence manslaughter after the remains of a baby were found in an East Sussex nature reserve.

Police believe a deceased baby found may have been dead for “several weeks”, and have been unable to confirm its gender. Barry Hughes, chief crown prosecutor for CPS London North, said: “The CPS has authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Constance Marten and Mark Gordon with gross negligence manslaughter.

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“Constance Marten, aged 35, and Mark Gordon, aged 48, have also been charged with concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice. These charges arise from their arrest on Monday as a result of a lengthy police investigation to establish their whereabouts and that of their baby.

“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Constance Marten and Mark Gordon are active and that they have the right to a fair trial.”

Searchers discovered the remains of an infant on Wednesday afternoon, not far from where the missing couple were tracked down on Monday night. Aristocrat Marten and her sex offender boyfriend Gordon were further arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter on Tuesday afternoon, after an overnight police search for their missing baby.

The couple had been avoiding police since the infant was born in early January, moving around the country, paying for everything in cash and covering their faces when on CCTV. Miss Marten, 35, and Mr Gordon, 48, had not been seen since their car was found burning on the M61 in Bolton, Greater Manchester, on 5 January. The couple were finally found after being spotted by a member of the public in the Stanmer Villas, Brighton on Monday (27 February) shortly before 9.30pm.

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Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford said the baby found in the Constance Marten and Mark Gordon investigation “may have been dead for some time” and the case has been referred to the police watchdog.

Searchers are continuing to scour an East Sussex woodland after an infant’s remains were discovered on Wednesday night. Photo: Eddie MitchellSearchers are continuing to scour an East Sussex woodland after an infant’s remains were discovered on Wednesday night. Photo: Eddie Mitchell
Searchers are continuing to scour an East Sussex woodland after an infant’s remains were discovered on Wednesday night. Photo: Eddie Mitchell

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, the Metropolitan Police officer said: “At this stage we have not yet been able to confirm the baby’s gender and post-mortem examination has not yet taken place.

“Despite this, based on our inquiries we’ve carried out so far, we believe sadly the baby may have been dead for some time before they were found,” he said. “It is too early for us to provide a more specific date.”

Mr Basford said: “Because we believe the death occurred during the course of a missing person investigation we have made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). This is standard protocol for such circumstances.”

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Officers investigating the case were “devastated” by its outcome, he said, and Constance Marten and Mark Gordon remained in custody. The warrant for further detention granted on Wednesday lasts until Thursday evening.

“We are truly devastated by the outcome and we know this emotion is being felt here in Brighton and across the country today,” Mr Basford said. “We know there are still many unanswered questions, and it is important that we give the investigation team the time and space they need to establish more details about the circumstances of this tragic death.”