GUILTY UK - Constance Marten & Mark Gordon charged in death of baby Victoria, GUILTY on all counts incl retrial on manslaughter, 5 Jan 2023 #9

[Alyce]

But Godfrey is stopped by the judge, who has spotted disruption in the dock again. He asks Marten what it is about his warning that she does not understand.

Marten speaks from the dock and says that a dock officer is not allowing her to make notes.

The judge says: "You are entitled to a pen... it's very distracting when I am trying to listen to what you are saying on behalf of Miss Marten," directed to Godfrey.

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon jailed for 14 years over death of their baby

The judge says the couple have not shown any "genuine expression of remorse", after baby Victoria's death in a tent in 2023.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[JennieM]

.
After a few minutes, the judge stopped proceedings again when he saw Marten hectoring the guard sat next to her.
He called her behaviour “distracting” and repeated the threat to remove her from the dock.
Moments earlier, Gordon had tried to hand Marten a pen across the dock, but it had been seized by the guard between them.
“She is not allowing me to write notes on what he (Godfrey) is saying”, Marten told the judge.
“I’m entitled to a pen, I need to use one.”
The judge then allowed her to have the pen.


This behaviour sounds like that of immature adolescents trying to rile their teacher .

 

[JennieM]

I really hope the Judge does add something to their sentences for this disrespectful attitude to the court.
Today, as we know, is far from an isolated incident, they have been contemptuous many times during both trials.

 

[Alyce]

Marten's defence reads letters in support​

13:19​

Helena Wilkinson and Claire Ellison
Reporting from the Old Bailey


Tom Godfrey KC is now reading out letters in support of Marten.

One is written by someone who first met Marten as a teenager in Uganda where she was volunteering.

The friend described Marten as "someone who acts with integrity and kindness towards others".

A former family housekeeper Cecilia Dubuyer, writes that she remembers Marten as as a "sweet thoughtful young woman" with a "kind heart"

Court hears letter from Marten's mother​

13:20​

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from the Old Bailey


In a letter provided by Marten's mother to the court, she describes her daughter growing up as "inquisitive" and "adventurous".

She says her daughter was "bright" with a "feisty spirit".

"At school she was loyal to her friends", Marten's mother says, adding that "alongside her strength she also carried her fragility" and at times "struggled with confidence and self worth".

Marten's mother adds that she "was horrified by the way the court and newspapers portrayed her".

As Tom Godfrey reads out Marten's mother's letter to court, Marten shows no reaction from the dock and doesn't look over to her mother who is sitting in the well of court.

The hearing has now been adjourned for a lunch break and will be back at 14:00.

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon jailed for 14 years over death of their baby

The judge says the couple have not shown any "genuine expression of remorse", after baby Victoria's death in a tent in 2023.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

Marten is a ‘sweet, thoughtful young woman’, court hears​

Continuing his mitigation, Mr Godfrey read from a series of letters of reference sent to the court on behalf of Marten.

The first was from a young woman in Uganda who met Marten when she was working as a volunteer there between 2007 and 2009.

The letter described how Marten had demonstrated “incredible generosity” towards her, helping to pay her school fees and eventually launch a business.

“I have always known her to be a caring person, genuinely interested in the welfare of others” she wrote.

There was also a letter from the Marten family’s housekeeper who described her as a “sweet, thoughtful young woman” who was “generous, kind and caring” and treated all those around her with respect.

She wrote: “In my eyes Constance is a wonderful person with many admirable qualities.”



www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

Marten is a ‘sweet, thoughtful young woman’, court hears​

Continuing his mitigation, Mr Godfrey read from a series of letters of reference sent to the court on behalf of Marten.

The first was from a young woman in Uganda who met Marten when she was working as a volunteer there between 2007 and 2009.

The letter described how Marten had demonstrated “incredible generosity” towards her, helping to pay her school fees and eventually launch a business.

“I have always known her to be a caring person, genuinely interested in the welfare of others” she wrote.

There was also a letter from the Marten family’s housekeeper who described her as a “sweet, thoughtful young woman” who was “generous, kind and caring” and treated all those around her with respect.

She wrote: “In my eyes Constance is a wonderful person with many admirable qualities.”



www.telegraph.co.uk

Am not sure that good references from a person that CM funded for study and a paid housekeeper of the Marten family are going to be very relevant. They are obviously going to be be supportive !

 

[Alyce]

Court breaks for lunch after hearing from Marten’s mother and stepfather​

There was also a letter of reference from Guy de Selliers, Marten’s stepfather.

He described her as a fiercely independent woman who was “a fundamentally very generous and kind person”.



www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[Skigh]

This certainly does not show a wonderful person with many wonderful qualities who is sweet ,caring and treated all around her with respect. Watching her behaviour in court the judge must be thinking it clearly is a case of mistaken identity.


As Tom Godfrey reads out Marten's mother's letter to court, Marten shows no reaction from the dock and doesn't look over to her mother who is sitting in the well of court.

 

[JennieM]

13:33​

Commotion in the dock as Marten tries to pass notes to Gordon​

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from the Old Bailey

Once the judge left the court there was a commotion in the dock.

Marten tried to hand Gordon a piece of paper and the dock officer took it from her.

"Don't snatch it off me, are you alright?" Marten said crossly to the dock officer.

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon jailed for 14 years over death of their baby

The judge says the couple have not shown any "genuine expression of remorse", after baby Victoria's death in a tent in 2023.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[JennieM]

What have we heard in court so far?​

The court at the Old Bailey has adjourned until 14:00. If you're just joining us, here's the latest:

Disruption in the dock

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon have been passing notes, distracting the judge and leading him to tell them it "shows a complete lack of respect".

Despite threatening to continue without the defendants present if it continues, he was distracted a second time. The judge is being much freer of his criticism of the pair today, as he doesn't have to worry about influencing the jury now, writes Daniel Sandford.

From Mark Gordon's new barrister Philippa McAtasney KC

• The judge should decide that baby Victoria did not die of hypothermia, but because Constance Marten fell asleep on her, McAtasney said
• She submitted that this was not a category A (highest level of culpability) case of gross negligence manslaughter

From Constance Marten's barrister Tom Godfrey

• He points out the lack of pathological evidence for the baby dying from hypothermia, instead submitting that the judge should sentence Marten on the basis of smothering
• Godfrey says it was not a "very serious example" of gross negligence manslaughter

On their characters

• In a letter provided by Marten's mother to the court, she describes her daughter growing up as "inquisitive" and "adventurous"
• Gordon's barrister mentions reports where he said their whole lives were affected by the children being taken away, and they were suffering from trauma

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon jailed for 14 years over death of their baby

The judge says the couple have not shown any "genuine expression of remorse", after baby Victoria's death in a tent in 2023.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Teignmouth 22]

Still misbehaving when they return to the dock!

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon jailed for 14 years over death of their baby

The judge says the couple have not shown any "genuine expression of remorse", after baby Victoria's death in a tent in 2023.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

Baby's death 'weighs heavily on her conscience' - Marten's lawyer​

​

14:13​

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from the Old Bailey


Constance Marten's barrister Tom Godfrey says "the sorrow that Constance Marten feels is impalpable".

"She has, ever since an early stage, accepted that her baby died as a result of something she did. That fact weighs very heavily on her conscience and will do so for the rest of her life".

Godfrey argues that Marten is suffering from C-PTSD (Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon jailed for 14 years over death of their baby

The judge says the couple have not shown any "genuine expression of remorse", after baby Victoria's death in a tent in 2023.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

More security in the dock
14:17​

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from the Old Bailey


There are now four officers in the dock with Marten and Gordon.

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon jailed for 14 years over death of their baby

The judge says the couple have not shown any "genuine expression of remorse", after baby Victoria's death in a tent in 2023.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Teignmouth 22]

Judge's sentencing remarks will be broadcast:

Sentencing hearing under way for Constance Marten and Mark Gordon over death of their daughter - latest

Baby Victoria died in a tent in 2023 while the couple were on the run from the authorities.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

Judge’s sentencing remarks will be broadcast
14:26​

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from the Old Bailey


You’ll be able to watch the Judge’s sentencing remarks once he begins by clicking play at the top of the page.

Only the Judge will be on camera, to protect the privacy of any victims, witnesses and jurors.

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon jailed for 14 years over death of their baby

The judge says the couple have not shown any "genuine expression of remorse", after baby Victoria's death in a tent in 2023.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

This is from her own barrister !



2:24pm

"May be a risk in the future" if Marten and Gordon had further children, Mr Godfrey says.

Live: Protesters gather outside court as couple to be sentenced for killing baby

Updates as Mark Gordon and Constance Marten to be sentenced at the Old Bailey.

www.theargus.co.uk

 

[Teignmouth 22]

Judge’s sentencing remarks will be broadcast​

14:26​

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from the Old Bailey


You’ll be able to watch the Judge’s sentencing remarks once he begins by clicking play at the top of the page.

Only the Judge will be on camera, to protect the privacy of any victims, witnesses and jurors.

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon jailed for 14 years over death of their baby

The judge says the couple have not shown any "genuine expression of remorse", after baby Victoria's death in a tent in 2023.

www.bbc.co.uk

I have a strong suspicion the pair of them are going to disrupt it and have to be removed from Court.

 

[Alyce]

2:28pm

Judge rises​

Judge Lucraft has left to consider. He is expected to return in around 15 minutes.

Live: Protesters gather outside court as couple to be sentenced for killing baby

Updates as Mark Gordon and Constance Marten to be sentenced at the Old Bailey.

www.theargus.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

I have a strong suspicion the pair of them are going to disrupt it and have to be removed from Court.

Oh for sure, they will be making noise

 

[Alyce]

Judge's sentencing remarks will be on camera ​

Remarks are aired with a short delay when broadcasting live to prevent any breach of reporting restrictions or errors, with footage subject to usual reporting restrictions.

A reminder, you'll be able to watch the sentencing in a stream at the top of this live page when it begins.

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon latest: Judge condemns 'shameful conduct' of couple as he says baby died of 'hypothermia'

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon have been jailed over the death of their newborn baby in 2023 while they were on the run from the authorities. Recap what happened at the Old Bailey as they were sentenced.

news.sky.com