Constance Marten trial updates: Aristocrat accused of killing newborn baby back in court

A fugitive aristocrat was given virtually £50,000 from her household belief fund in the months earlier than she disappeared along with her associate and newborn baby, a court has heard.

Constance Marten was given £47,886 by C. Hoare & Co between September 2022 and January 2023. A police attraction to seek out them was launched on January 6 final 12 months.

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An aristocrat accused of killing her baby has defended residing off-grid whereas on the run along with her newborn, telling jurors: “Jesus survived in a barn, didn’t he?”.

Constance Marten, 36, and her associate, Mark Gordon, 49, are on trial after baby Victoria died whereas they have been tenting on the South Downs in wintry circumstances final 12 months.

While being cross-examined on the Old Bailey, she argued their interval residing in a tent on the South Downs was being checked out from a “Western perspective”, including that Bedouin households stroll by chilly deserts with youngsters whereas others stay in shanty cities.

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The associate of aristocrat Constance Marten informed police she was a “good mother” and had “done nothing wrong” when questioned in regards to the demise of their newborn baby.

Mark Gordon, 49, initially refused to reply questions when he and 36-year-old Ms Marten have been arrested in Brighton some seven weeks after happening the run with their daughter Victoria.

In a police interview final March, he began by saying he would give his testimony to a jury.

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During her proof in March, Constance Marten denied neglecting her baby – insisting the toddler died as a result of Marten didn’t take care of herself whereas on the run in the times after she gave delivery.

The aristocrat additionally informed jurors she and her associate Mark Gordon didn’t hand themselves in to the authorities as a result of she doesn’t belief the police or social companies after their different 4 youngsters have been taken into care.

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An aristocrat accused of killing her newborn baby has defended the circumstances her daughter was left in whereas she and her associate have been on the run, telling jurors: “Babies don’t require that much to survive.”

Constance Marten, 36, and her associate, Mark Gordon, 49, are accused of gross negligence manslaughter after their daughter Victoria died whereas they have been tenting on the South Downs in wintry circumstances final 12 months.

During her fifth day of testifying on the Old Bailey, the 36-year-old informed jurors on Thursday: “People have survived without houses and hospitals for millennia. Babies don’t require that much to survive – they just need food, warmth and care.”

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An knowledgeable has informed jurors it was “exceedingly unlikely” fugitive mom Constance Marten’s newborn baby died from the chilly.

Marten, 36, and her associate Mark Gordon, 49, have been residing off grid in a tent on the South Downs when their daughter Victoria died, the Old Bailey has heard.

In her proof, Marten has stated the kid died when she fell asleep whereas holding her below her jacket in the tent final January 9.

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In agreed details learn to the jury on Thursday, they have been informed Marten’s mother and father had made statements to the police about their use of non-public investigators.

The court heard that Marten’s mom employed a non-public investigator for 2 weeks in October 2016 as a result of she was anxious about her daughter.

Her father informed police he had employed investigators to seek out her in 2017 and 2021.

However each deny any non-public investigator was instructed to seek out her in 2022 or in 2023 – when she went on the run with Gordon and baby Victoria.

Professor Fleming insisted co-sleeping was not “inherently dangerous”, including: “It’s normal in our species.”

It comes after Marten beforehand informed the court she fell asleep with baby Victoria on her chest zipped inside her jacket – earlier than she awoke to seek out her useless.

Challenged in regards to the circumstances inside Marten and Gordon’s tent, he admitted they have been “not optimal”.

“Are you saying that a baby being on their chest under a coat on a mother who is lying on the ground next to a tent surface on one side, somebody else on another side and a number of sleeping bags and pillows – are you saying that’s safe sleeping are you?” Mr Little stated.

He replied: “No I am not. I am saying it’s not optimal.”

Professor Fleming agreed it might not be secure for a baby to be carried in a Lidl service bag in chilly circumstances.

Mr Little requested the knowledgeable: “On the basis that a baby of a few weeks old in a Lidl shopping bag for life…with limited clothing on in cold conditions – would you say that that was a safe thing to do?”

Professor Fleming responded: “No it’s not safe. Of course it’s not.”