UK - Constance Marten & Mark Gordon charged, Newborn (found deceased), Bolton Greater Manchester, 5 Jan 2023 #4

[missmargot]

Fresh charges in this case.

 

[Alyce]

From the link above, provided by Missmargot


Marten appeared by video link from Bronzefield prison
Gordon from Belmarsh jail

Marten wore a pink and white floral print shirt
Gordon a grey tracksuit


Judge Lucraft put a plea and case management hearing back from August 18 to September 22

confirmed the provisional trial has been set for January 2 next year.

A further mention hearing was set for August 25.

Aristocrat Constance Marten and partner face fresh charges over death of baby

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon were charged with manslaughter by gross negligence on March 2 after the body of baby Victoria was found in Brighton

www.standard.co.uk

 

[amaraya]

From the link above, provided by Missmargot


Marten appeared by video link from Bronzefield prison
Gordon from Belmarsh jail

Marten wore a pink and white floral print shirt
Gordon a grey tracksuit


Judge Lucraft put a plea and case management hearing back from August 18 to September 22

confirmed the provisional trial has been set for January 2 next year.

A further mention hearing was set for August 25.

Aristocrat Constance Marten and partner face fresh charges over death of baby

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon were charged with manslaughter by gross negligence on March 2 after the body of baby Victoria was found in Brighton

www.standard.co.uk

Honestly i could so do without the fashion info and more real info.

 

[Alyce]

Honestly i could so do without the fashion info and more real info.

I found it interestingly relevant -

 

[Luwin]

I found it interestingly relevant -

It does seem to suggest she has someone to help provide clothes and he's only in his prison outfit? She's potentially engaging to present herself better? MOO

 

[Twittens]

From the link above, provided by Missmargot


Marten appeared by video link from Bronzefield prison
Gordon from Belmarsh jail

Marten wore a pink and white floral print shirt
Gordon a grey tracksuit


Judge Lucraft put a plea and case management hearing back from August 18 to September 22

confirmed the provisional trial has been set for January 2 next year.

A further mention hearing was set for August 25.

Aristocrat Constance Marten and partner face fresh charges over death of baby

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon were charged with manslaughter by gross negligence on March 2 after the body of baby Victoria was found in Brighton

www.standard.co.uk

If the plea hearing has been postponed, what do people think the further mention hearing is likely to be for?

Does an extra hearing get scheduled for presenting psychiatric reports and if so would it be the right kind of timing for that (just before pleas)? Or I thought it might be an application for bail (more likely for CM than MG) particularly if there is a helpful psychiatric report.

 

[Alyce]

If the plea hearing has been postponed, what do people think the further mention hearing is likely to be for?

Does an extra hearing get scheduled for presenting psychiatric reports and if so would it be the right kind of timing for that (just before pleas)? Or I thought it might be an application for bail (more likely for CM than MG) particularly if there is a helpful psychiatric report.

Possibly it has been scheduled to do a final check with the Defence team ( or at least with CMs defence ) before the plea hearing, to ensure they’ve had time to get all their new paperwork ready to deal with the additional charges.

I agree that if psychiatric reports are going to be produced, then that’s the time to introduce them. And could potentially lead to a bail application for CM.

 

[Rolypolyoly]

It does seem to suggest she has someone to help provide clothes and he's only in his prison outfit? She's potentially engaging to present herself better? MOO

To me it suggests she has an expensive lawyer and he has legal aid. Just guessing though.

 

[amaraya]

I found it interestingly relevant -

Minimally for me as it is to be expected given their means and situations- it isnt a surprise - there is much more important info i would rather have that we probably will not get...

 

[CaptainNancy]

On remand in prison you are allowed to wear your own clothes. It is minimal and obvious information but tells us that he has no one supporting him, even to the extent of bringing him a shirt for court. Friends and family would do this, not legal team.

 

[Alyce]

The inquest has been unable to establish a cause of death for Victoria. More tests have been ordered.

Cause of death of runaway aristocrat's baby is mystery, inquest hears

Marten, 35, and her boyfriend Mark Gordon, 48, were arrested after baby Victoria was found in a plastic bag in a shed under a heap of nappies on a Brighton allotment following a search.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

dbm

 

[Nikynoo]

I found it interestingly relevant -

me too.

 

[JennieM]

Article from July 12

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon: Inquest for baby paused​

An inquest into the death of a baby, who was at the centre of a nationwide missing persons search, has been paused while police continue to investigate.

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, the parents of two-month-old Victoria, face five charges over her death, including manslaughter by gross negligence.

[…]

It was told an initial post-mortem examination carried out did not determine a cause of death.

Registration documentation provided by the court did not list a date of birth or "usual address" for the child.

[…]

They were charged with manslaughter by gross negligence, concealing a child's birth and perverting the course of justice in the days following their arrest.

It emerged during a hearing at the Old Bailey on Monday that they have also since been charged with child cruelty and causing or allowing the death of a child.

It is claimed they caused the baby's death by their own "unlawful act" or failed to "take such steps as could reasonably have been expected" to protect the baby.

The alleged offences are said to have taken place between 4 January and 27 February.

The pair were both listed as not having a fixed address.

They appeared before Judge Mark Lucraft KC via separate video links from prison and spoke only to confirm their names during the short hearing.

A provisional trial date has been set for 2 January next year, with further administrative hearings due to take place this summer.

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon: Inquest for baby paused

The body of Victoria, the daughter of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, was found in March.

www.bbc.com

 

[Tortoise]

Marten today applied for bail but Judge Mark Lucraft, KC, the Recorder of London, refused and she remains remanded in custody. [...]

Marten and Gordon will next appear for a mention hearing to consider custody time limits on 25 August.

A four-to-six week trial date has been set for 2 January 2023. [should be 2024]

Aristocrat Constance Marten and her boyfriend 'camped off grid'

Marten, 35, and Mark Gordon, 48, are accused of killing baby Victoria in rural Sussex, after going on the run with the child between January 5 and February 27.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

To me it suggests she has an expensive lawyer and he has legal aid. Just guessing though.

Her KC attended the first hearing at Magistrates Court. In all the years I have followed trials on WS, I have never known this to happen.

 

[Nikynoo]

Marten today applied for bail but Judge Mark Lucraft, KC, the Recorder of London, refused and she remains remanded in custody. [...]

Marten and Gordon will next appear for a mention hearing to consider custody time limits on 25 August.

A four-to-six week trial date has been set for 2 January 2023. [should be 2024]

Aristocrat Constance Marten and her boyfriend 'camped off grid'

Marten, 35, and Mark Gordon, 48, are accused of killing baby Victoria in rural Sussex, after going on the run with the child between January 5 and February 27.

www.dailymail.co.uk

I wish they expanded on the reason(s) for refusing bail.

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

Her KC attended the first hearing at Magistrates Court. In all the years I have followed trials on WS, I have never known this to happen.

Then he must be very expensive and very rigorous because the magistrates hearing is really just a formality, a person is brought in front of the magistrate, confirms their name and details and the magistrate explains the case is being passed up to Crown Court.

I *think* they might ask the defendant if there's anything they'd like to say, can't remember, but maybe the defence thought they'd best be there in case she decided to say things?

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

I wish they expanded on the reason(s) for refusing bail.

I would have thought it's quite obvious that she's a flight risk whilst at the same time, the charges are very serious and she must be detained to answer to them.

 

[Nikynoo]

I would have thought it's quite obvious that she's a flight risk whilst at the same time, the charges are very serious and she must be detained to answer to them.

Yes, I get that, but why ask for a bail hearing if you know your client won’t be granted bail (because of the seriousness of the charges)?