Constance Marten and Mark Gordon guilty of gross negligence manslaughter over baby's death

Summary

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon have been found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter over their baby's death
The couple's baby, Victoria, was found dead in a shopping bag in Brighton in 2023 after they spent two months on the run
Marten, 38, and Gordon, 51, were previously found guilty of concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice - this retrial was on the outstanding charges
It can also now be reported that Marten and Gordon were convicted of child cruelty at their first trial in 2024. They will be sentenced on 15 September
Gordon was previously jailed in the US for raping his neighbour when he was 14 - the BBC's Daniel Sandford has spoken to his victim
From the couple's disruptive behaviour, to Marten's accusations about her aristocratic family, this has been an extraordinary case, Helena Wilkinson reports

Live Reporting

Edited by Owen Amos, with Helena Wilkinson reporting from court

Judge to schedule sentencing for future datepublished at 14:23 British Summer Time
Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from court

Judge tells jury he won't set a date for sentence today, but will do at a future date.
He tells the jury they are welcome to come back for that if they wish.
As the jury leaves the courtroom, Marten looks ahead, showing no reaction.
Marten and Gordon react as guilty verdicts readpublished at 14:22 British Summer Time
Levi Jouavel
Reporting from court

Constance Marten sighs and shakes her head whilst verdicts are read out.
Mark Gordon had little reaction but is sitting with his eyes closed and his head resting back against the wall.
Marten and Gordon both guiltypublished at 14:19 British Summer Time
Breaking
Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from court

Image source, Metropolitan Police
Mark Gordon and Constance Marten are both guilty of gross negligence manslaughter.
Marten and Gordon asked to standpublished at 14:19 British Summer Time
Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from court

The defendants are asked to stand.
Constance Marten remains seated, as does Gordon.
Jury entering the courtroompublished at 14:18 British Summer Time
Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from court

The jury are being brought into the court now. Stay with us for updates.
Marten and Gordon in dockpublished at 14:15 British Summer Time
Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from court

The judge has entered court.
Constance Marten and Mark Gordon are in the dock.
What are Marten and Gordon accused of?published at 14:15 British Summer Time
Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from the Old Bailey

While we wait for the verdicts, a reminder that Constance Marten and Mark Gordon face two counts which they both deny.
They relate to their newborn baby, Victoria, and are:
- Manslaughter by gross negligence
- Causing or allowing the death of a child
What this case is aboutpublished at 14:15 British Summer Time

Constance Marten, 38, and Mark Gordon, 51, both deny manslaughter by gross negligence over the death of their child, Victoria.
Victoria's decomposed body was found in a shopping bag in a Brighton allotment shed in March 2023, two months after they went on the run. She had died in a tent in the South Downs in January 2023.
They also deny causing or allowing the death of a child.
At a previous trial, Marten and Gordon were found guilty of concealing Victoria's birth and perverting the course of justice by not reporting her death.
But the jury could not come to a verdict on the outstanding charges and this retrial began in March.
Verdict expected in retrial over death of newborn babypublished at 14:12 British Summer Time

Image source, Getty Images
The jury in the case of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon are returning to the courtroom at the Old Bailey, as we await a verdict.
The two defendants are accused of manslaughter by gross negligence, and causing or allowing the death of a child. They deny both charges.
The couple's baby girl was found dead in a shopping bag covered in rubbish, in a shed on a Brighton allotment in 2023.
Our correspondents are in court and we'll bring you the latest as it happens.