Constance Marten trial: Aristocrat says ‘Jesus survived in barn’ to defend living in tent with baby

Constance Marten trial Aristocrat says Jesus survived in barn to defend living in tent with baby
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Police find Constance Marten’s baby in a rubbish-filled shopping bag

Aristocrat Constance Marten has defended her decision to live in a tent with her newborn baby, telling jurors: “Jesus survived in a barn.”

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Marten, 36, and her partner, Mark Gordon, 49, are on trial after baby Victoria died while they were camping on the South Downs in wintry conditions last year.

Following their arrests last February, the child’s badly decomposed body was found in an allotment shed inside a Lidl supermarket bag also containing soil and rubbish.

On Wednesday, Marten was cross-examined at the Old Bailey about the couple’s decision to buy a tent and live off grid to hide from authorities.

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The mother is due to return to the stand on Thursday morning, her fifth day of giving evidence in her trial.

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The couple deny charges of gross negligence manslaughter of their daughter between 4 January and 27 February last year, charges of perverting the course of justice by concealing the body, along with concealing the birth of a child, child cruelty, and allowing the death of a child.

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Trial has adjourned for the day

The trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon has adjourned for the day and will resume tomorrow at 10.30am where the cross-examination will continue.

Holly Evans13 March 2024 16:20

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Tearful Marten admits feeling ‘responsible’ for baby’s death

Further questioned about the appropriate use of a tent for a newborn, Marten became emotional when she recalled the “awful” memory of her daughter’s death.

“I do feel responsible for her death absolutely but I do not think it had anything to do with being in a tent, it could have happened in a hotel when I fell asleep ,” she said.

“I don’t think being in the tent was the wrong thing to do, I think me being exhausted and sitting up at that time was very unfortunate yes.”

When questioned “Are you responsible for her death?”, she tearfully responded: “I think to a degree of course, I feel responsible as her mum for her death but at the same time I have to love and forgive myself because it was a really awful set of circumstances but I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

She continued: “I live with that sadness because she died in my arms.”

Constance Marten tearfully admitted feeling responsible for her daughter’s death on Wednesday (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

(PA Wire)

Holly Evans13 March 2024 15:54

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‘I’m not into conspiracy theories,’ Marten says

Speaking of her plans to move to Europe with her family, Marten said she was aware of an “underground network” helping parents move away from social services.

When questioned by the prosecutor if she bought into conspiracy theories, she responded: “I’ve had a great education, I’m not into conspiracy theories.”

Holly Evans13 March 2024 15:24

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Marten denies accusation baby Victoria was placed in a bag

Marten repeatedly dismissed as “ridiculous” the prosecution suggestion that she had carried her daughter in a Lidl “bag for life” when she was alive.

She said: “This whole line of reasoning is absurd, that she is alive in the bag.

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“If i’d done that she would have been screaming, people would have noticed.

“I’m not going to put her alive in a Lidl bag, I’m sorry it is absurd.”

Baby Victoria’s body was found in a Lidl bag in an allotment shed several weeks later after the couple were arrested near Brighton.

Baby Victoria was found in a red Lidl carrier bag

(Metropolitan Police)

Holly Evans13 March 2024 14:45

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‘We were in a tent because we cared for her so much,’ mother says

Pushed again on why they as a couple had made the decision to live in a tent after arriving in East Ham, Marten responded: “We were in a tent because we cared for her so much, we weren’t in a tent because me and Mark had a penchant for tents.”

“She’s the reason we’re doing what we’re doing,” she added.

The court heard that at the time, Marten had £17k in her Metro account and a “couple of thousand” in her Halifax bank account.

Questioned why they had purchased a tent from Argos, she said: “It was the easiest place, it’s not easy to get a tent in the middle of January.”

Holly Evans13 March 2024 14:38

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Trial has resumed

Judge Mark Lucraft KC has returned to Court 5 of the Old Bailey, and the trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon has resumed.

Holly Evans13 March 2024 14:12

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Court breaks for lunch

The trial has adjourned for a lunch and will return at 2pm.

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Cross-examination is expected to continue as Marten faces questioning about the couple’s decision to live in a tent last January with their newborn.

Holly Evans13 March 2024 13:16

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‘Jesus survived in a barn,’ Marten counters to scrutiny over tent use

Questioned further on their use of tent during sub-zero temperatures with a newborn, Marten responded that Bedouin families walk through cold deserts with children, adding: “Jesus survived in a barn.

She repeated that their intention had not been to live permanently or for a prolonged period in a tent but had decided to do so after a manhunt was launched by police.

Following media appeals for their whereabouts, she said: “We weren’t just running from private investigators hired by my family or the police or social services, we were pretty much running from the entire public.”

She also recalled that she and her husband had previously lived in a tent before the birth of their eldest child, and stressed: “My number one priority was to keep my baby.”

Holly Evans13 March 2024 13:15

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“I’ve grown up with a lot of luxury”, Marten says

Answering questions about the couple’s decision to purchase a tent and live off-grid, Marten refused to be drawn on whether it was a “big” choice, stressing that she did so to ensure her child was not taken by social services.

“I don’t particularly want to be in a tent, I’ve grown up with a lot of luxury,” she said. “I like the feathered duvets and comfort but I will do whatever is necessary. I will do anything for my baby, anything.”

When pressed about the suitability of a tent for a newborn, she said: “Of course it’s not comfortable, I’d rather be in a plush bed in a palace.”

However, she stressed that the decision to live in a tent was only meant to be for a “pitstop” until they found somewhere to live in the countryside.

“It’s a situation you can’t really prepare for, you act on instinct,” she said. “A mother’s love for her child is very strong and no way was I going to part with my child.”

Constance Marten carrying her newborn under her jacket before purchasing a tent

(Metropolitan Police)

Holly Evans13 March 2024 12:58

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Trial resumes after a brief break

The trial has resumed after Marten and the jurors received a short break ahead of further questioning from Mr Smith.

Holly Evans13 March 2024 12:31



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