Constance Marten and Mark Gordon will stand trial in January 2024, accused of manslaughter after the remains of a baby girl were discovered in a shed in Brighton. The infant, later named Victoria, was found in a plastic bag hidden beneath nappies after a prolonged 53-day missing persons investigation.
The couple appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday charged with concealing a child’s birth and perverting the course of justice. Neither entered a plea during the hearing and both were remanded in custody. They only confirmed their names and dates of birth.
Judge Richard Marks set a plea and case management hearing for 18 August, which will be conducted via video link. The trial is provisionally scheduled to begin on 2 January 2024 and could last up to six weeks.
The Metropolitan Police have referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct due to the baby’s death occurring during the missing persons investigation. Court documents revealed the baby’s name as Victoria but did not provide details on the cause of death. It is believed that Victoria died some time before her remains were found on 1 March.
Neither Marten nor Gordon applied for bail. Both will remain in custody until their trial in January, as neither has a fixed address.
Originally published by UKNIP.
