Constance Marten and Mark Gordon jury retires to consider verdicts

A court artist's sketch of Constance Marten giving evidence during the trial

Jurors in the trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon have retired to consider their verdicts.

Ms Marten, 36, and Mr Gordon, 49, both deny the manslaughter by gross negligence of their newborn daughter Victoria.

Their baby's body was found in a Lidl bag in a Brighton shed on 1 March 2023.

The trial has heard their arrests on 27 February last year came weeks after their car was found on fire on the M61 in Greater Manchester in January.

They had gone off-grid on the South Downs after fleeing authorities in an attempt to keep their baby after four other children were taken into care, the Old Bailey has been told.

On Tuesday, Judge Mark Lucraft KC told the jury of six men and five women they should reach unanimous verdicts if possible.

The jury was sent out just after 16:00 BST, after the judge gave them final directions.

He told them it was important their deliberations were focused on the evidence and to take their time.

A pathologist has told the court that it was not possible to establish the cause of the child's death.

Ms Marten has claimed her daughter died by accident when she fell asleep holding her under her jacket the day after pitching a tent.

The prosecution suggests Victoria could have died after being exposed to cold conditions with inadequate clothes.

Ms Marten and Mr Gordon, of no fixed address. also deny perverting the course of justice, concealing the birth of a child, child cruelty and causing or allowing the death of a child.

The trial continues.