Aristocrat Constance Marten and Mark Gordon found guilty on two counts but will be retried over death of baby
Constance Marten and Mark Gordon found guilty on two counts
PA
Constance Marten and her partner Mark Gordon have been found guilty at the Old Bailey of concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice but will be retried over the death of the baby.
The CPS announced that the pair will face a retrial after the jury failed to reach a verdict on the charge of manslaughter by gross negligence.
Marten and Gordon had been on trial at the Old Bailey accused of killing their daughter Victoria, whose body was found in March 2023.
There had been a high-profile police search for the missing baby which culminated in the couple’s arrests in Brighton last February, with the child found days afterwards.
Constance Marten and Mark Gordon found guilty on two counts PAThe couple spent 54 days on the run, before hiding out in a tent on the South Downs.
They were eventually arrested in Brighton on February 27 on suspicion of child neglect, however, baby Victoria was not with them.
Her body was found two days later on March 1 in a disused shed.
Marten and Gordon were each charged with 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.
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The pair denied all counts and went on trial at the Old Bailey on January 25.
Jurors began deliberating on April 30 and were discharged after more than 72 hours of deliberation.
The pair were found guilty last month of concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice, however, the verdicts could not be reported until now.
The jury of 10 was unable to reach a verdict on the charge of manslaughter by gross negligence, and they were discharged.
The pair went on trial at the Old Bailey on January 25
GettyDismissing the jury, Judge Lucraft thanked them for their "extraordinary public service". He added that they would be excused from jury service for the rest of their lives.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) was given a week to decide whether to continue with the case. On Wednesday morning, prosecutor Tom Little KC confirmed there would be a retrial.
Judge Lucraft set a provisional six to eight-week retrial from March 3 next year.
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