UK - Constance Marten & Mark Gordon charged, Newborn (found deceased), Bolton Greater Manchester, 5 Jan 2023 #5

[StillDiggin]

Police are searching for a couple who have gone missing with their newborn baby after their car broke down on a motorway.
Constance Marten and Mark Gordon left the car near junction four of the M61 near Bolton on Thursday night and walked towards Anchor Lane bridge, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.
Officers believe Ms Marten had recently given birth and neither she nor her baby had seen medical professionals.
They are appealing for information.
The bridge the couple walked towards links the Highfield and Little Hulton areas.

Couple and newborn baby missing after M61 breakdown - police

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon went missing with their baby after breaking down on the M61.

www.bbc.co.uk

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[Knitty]

Please continue here.

 

[BackseatDriver]

As a reply to @Kittens re: co-sleeping

MOO

That is the current guidance yes. Although it has only just changed on the NHS website in the past couple of months IIRC.

It may be possible that when CM had her previous children it was different advice.

I would also say that given her description of how Victoria died (whilst she was sleeping sat up holding victoria), there's a possibility she has a history of unsafe co-sleeping - which does present a very real risk. MOO

Safe sleep advice for babies - Start for Life

Find out which products your baby needs to sleep safely and when co-sleeping is not advised.

www.nhs.uk

http://https//www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/co-sleeping/

 

[Alyce]

Link for today's reporting from The Argus

Recap: Witnesses tell of seeing Constance Marten and Mark Gordon in Brighton

Live updates as Constance Marten and Mark Gordon trial continues.

www.theargus.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

Gordon appeared in court today wearing a light blue shirt and tie while Marten did not appear. Judge Mark Lucraft, KC, the Recorder of London, told the jury: 'We don't have Ms Marten on the link, a link is available, she may join us.'

Constance Marten's lover 'slid down taxi seat' as cops passed, trial hears

Mark Gordon, who is accused along with his aristocrat girlfriend Constance Marten of killing their baby, "slid down in his seat" when a police car by their taxi, a court heard

www.mirror.co.uk

 

[OliverK]

Reported as CM's barristers (I think I have these in chronological order):

Lewis Power KC
Philip Sapsford KC
John Ryder KC (15 Jan 2024)
Tom Godfrey KC (today)

 

[JennieM]

Constance Marten's lover 'slid down in his seat' when a police car passed as he took a taxi with his aristocratic girlfriend and their newborn child, court told​

Mark Gordon 'slid down in his seat' when police car passed, court told

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon (pictured) are accused of killing newborn Victoria by taking her on the run in January last year to prevent her from being taken away by social services.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Skigh]

From the Mirror link posted above by Alyce:


Taxi driver Razvan Palcu was then approached by Marten in Colchester and asked if he would take her to East Ham. Marten paid over £100 upfront. Mr Palcu said: "The female told me to pull over as we needed to pick her husband up from the Castle Pub.


I wonder if he had been in the pub to buy alcohol for either one or both of them.

 

[Alyce]

Suddenly in the court room, the baby was in full view on the CCTV wearing a white baby grow as Ms Marten adjusted her under her padded burgundy coat

Constance Marten: Images of newborn baby shown to jury for first time

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon are accused of manslaughter of baby Victoria, who was found in a shed.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Twittens]

From the Mirror link posted above by Alyce:


Taxi driver Razvan Palcu was then approached by Marten in Colchester and asked if he would take her to East Ham. Marten paid over £100 upfront. Mr Palcu said: "The female told me to pull over as we needed to pick her husband up from the Castle Pub.


I wonder if he had been in the pub to buy alcohol for either one or both of them.

This is purely speculation based on personal experience but I've been asked in the past to do the taxi hailing when with a black male companion, because anecdotally taxi drivers tend not to stop otherwise.

 

[JennieM]

Has CM’s father been to court?

 

[Alyce]

Has CM’s father been to court?

This is from today's report, so I think not.



Marten's mother Virginie de Selliers is in court.

Constance Marten's lover 'slid down taxi seat' as cops passed, trial hears

Mark Gordon, who is accused along with his aristocrat girlfriend Constance Marten of killing their baby, "slid down in his seat" when a police car by their taxi, a court heard

www.mirror.co.uk

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

Reported as CM's barristers (I think I have these in chronological order):

Lewis Power KC
Philip Sapsford KC
John Ryder KC (15 Jan 2024)
Tom Godfrey KC (today)

Are any of these acting on behalf of the same chambers? Partners, juniors, etc.

 

[Alyce]

Reported as CM's barristers (I think I have these in chronological order):

Lewis Power KC
Philip Sapsford KC
John Ryder KC (15 Jan 2024)
Tom Godfrey KC (today)

So three legal teams so far.

Is Tom Godfrey a KC ?

@bobbymkii

 

[Alyce]

dbm

 

[Alyce]

First glimpse of Constance Marten's baby caught on CCTV footage

Jurors have seen first brief glimpses of a newborn baby who died after her parents Constance Marten and Mark Gordon went on the run.

www.theargus.co.uk

 

[OliverK]

So three legal teams so far.

Is Tom Godfrey a KC ?

@bobbymkii

You're right. No, he's not. I was going by the live report in the Argus where he's mistakenly described as one (2.57pm):

Recap: Witnesses tell of seeing Constance Marten and Mark Gordon in Brighton

Live updates as Constance Marten and Mark Gordon trial continues.

www.theargus.co.uk

 

[bobbymkii]

So three legal teams so far.

Is Tom Godfrey a KC ?

@bobbymkii

If he is then he is remarkably shy about mentioning it in any of his professional profiles online!

 

[Alyce]

Daily Mail have now uploaded the video

Constance Marten's newborn is seen for the first time

Constance Marten , 36, and Mark Gordon, 49, are accused of causing the death of baby Victoria by living in a tent 'off grid' in the middle of winter.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[bobbymkii]

“Mark Gordon, 48, sat alone in the dock, covering his face while some of the footage was played before his lawyer John Femi-Ola KC asked the judge for a break, saying it was "distressing".
At that point, Mr Gordon held his head back against the wall, looking up at the ceiling.”

Images of runaway aristocrat Constance Marten's baby Victoria shown to jury for first time

Images of Constance Marten's baby have been shown for the first time during her trial.

www.lbc.co.uk