UK - Constance Marten & Mark Gordon charged, Newborn (found deceased), Bolton Greater Manchester, 5 Jan 2023 #6

[Smccat]

The Argus look to be using their live feed on something else just now. There's a police presence at an incident on the A259 in Brighton.

 

[LenaOdenthal]

"I don't think she's done anything wrong, actually" (and the general tenor of MG's statements) suggests to me that he either believes or wished to imply that CM was solely responsible for the baby, that all decisions relating to her care and their movements were hers. She's the mother, I'm just the husband.

The role of father, of his having any agency to house, clothe, carry, clean, care for his daughter himself, doesn't really come up, does it? MOO

 

[Alyce]

Judge Lucraft is still dealing with the Fiona Beal hearing right now - in Court 5



www.thelawpages.com

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	Central Criminal Court​	5​	T20237268​	fiona beal​
Details: For Pre-Trial Review - Case Started - 10:43

 

[Baby baby Jane]

“She’s a very special person” says MG … she is literally his mobile money tree. He can access money with no need for job, no need sign on for benefits … her no-strings money allows him to give the finger to everyone and do exactly as he likes.

 

[Alyce]

Editing - they are still on Prosecution case



www.lawpages.com

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Central Criminal Court​	5​	T20237104​	constance marten mark alton gordon​
Details: Trial (Part Heard) - Resume - 11:41 Trial (Part Heard) - Witness Number 1 Sworn - 11:46

 

[InstantCoffee]

Looks like The Argus live feed started about an hour ago... link below

Constance Marten received over £3,000 a month from trust fund - live updates

Live updates as the trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon continues.

www.theargus.co.uk

 

[InstantCoffee]

Does this mean they are onto the Defence case ? Witness # 1

www.lawpages.com

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Central Criminal Court​	5​	T20237104​	constance marten mark alton gordon​
Details: Trial (Part Heard) - Resume - 11:41 Trial (Part Heard) - Witness Number 1 Sworn - 11:46

They have started with talking the jury through the timeline of the Golf Course CCTV footage.

 

[Alyce]

11.55 am

The jury is now going back over details of CCTV footage from Hollingbury Golf Club.



12.12 pm

Joel Smith KC, prosecuting, is taking the jury through the timeline of the golf course CCTV footage.

Constance Marten received over £3,000 a month from trust fund - live updates

Live updates as the trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon continues.

www.theargus.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

Looks like The Argus live feed started about an hour ago... link below

Constance Marten received over £3,000 a month from trust fund - live updates

Live updates as the trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon continues.

www.theargus.co.uk

Thanks IC, just seen that. So still Prosecution.

I did think it would be odd to go to Defence as we haven't had the forensics yet, which are usually the last part of Pros case.

 

[InstantCoffee]

The ArgusFeed:
The court is hearing that Marten received a £2,500 monthly stipend from the "Sturt Trust".

Marten is heard to have contacted the trustees to receive advances on the allowance as well as ad hoc payments from the trust.

That's a significant amount of money each month so why did she need advances and extra ad hoc payments? My thoughts immediately turn to either drugs or she is giving the money to another person / organisation possibly through coercion JMO

 

[JumpingFrog]

Constance Marten received over £3,000 a month from trust fund - live updates

Live updates as the trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon continues.

www.theargus.co.uk

 

[rightsaidfred]

The ArgusFeed:
The court is hearing that Marten received a £2,500 monthly stipend from the "Sturt Trust".

Marten is heard to have contacted the trustees to receive advances on the allowance as well as ad hoc payments from the trust.

That's a significant amount of money each month so why did she need advances and extra ad hoc payments? My thoughts immediately turn to either drugs or she is giving the money to another person / organisation possibly through coercion JMO

It started in September, IMO around the time she realised she was pregnant. My bet is it was essentially a 'war chest' for going on the run, possibly abroad, in the anticipation that they might not be able to access the bank and / or the family might have stopped additional funds.

What slightly mystifies me is why the family didn't use the trust fund to purchase a flat during the stable 2012-16 years when she was living in London. It would have stopped her haemorrhaging money on rent and provided security from the sort of landlords that will no fault evict if you even look at them funny.

 

[Rolypolyoly]

The ArgusFeed:
The court is hearing that Marten received a £2,500 monthly stipend from the "Sturt Trust".

Marten is heard to have contacted the trustees to receive advances on the allowance as well as ad hoc payments from the trust.

That's a significant amount of money each month so why did she need advances and extra ad hoc payments? My thoughts immediately turn to either drugs or she is giving the money to another person / organisation possibly through coercion JMO

It's not really a great amount of money to be fair, especially if they had no other monthly income.

 

[JumpingFrog]

It's not really a great amount of money to be fair, especially if they had no other monthly income.

Monthly, no...but extra payments requested in a 4 month period that equates to £47k between Sept-Jan (see above)

 

[InstantCoffee]

It's not really a great amount of money to be fair, especially if they had no other monthly income.

No, it's not huge - but if they were living in Ilford in Essex then rent shouldn't have been more than around 1k a month. Then if they had no commute costs, no dependant children etc it should be perfectly adequate. Didn't their landlord say there was unpaid rent and CM had debts to the tune of £25k? If that's the case, then where was the 50k she received in the space of 4.5 months going?

 

[Rolypolyoly]

Monthly, no...but extra payments requested in a 4 month period that equates to £47k between Sept-Jan (see above)

Yes, sorry I should have stated that I meant the monthly stipend. Definitely agree about the extra payments!

I agree with others here, I think she was building a nest egg to disappear with.

 

[Baby baby Jane]

Trusts and trustees are generally bound by guidelines / rules. Not sure if the Trust “rules” are public, but have known people to have Trusts and they are often “designed” to encourage/support certain behavior (education, employment, marriage), & not give too much in younger years and designed to last until old age.
£2,500 a month doesn’t seem to be “designed” to fully support CM & a family, but rather supplement an income.
Trusts (not an expert but) can have a favorable tax position, if they are discretionary, that the Trustees make the decisions, not the beneficiary (CM). The Trust may not have the discretion to simply buy CM a home.
In a lot of ways, CM situation is like being “on benefits” but the payer is private.

Her income also likely made/makes her ineligible for benefits/housing support/legal aid.

 

[Nikynoo]

Monthly, no...but extra payments requested in a 4 month period that equates to £47k between Sept-Jan (see above)

There was a payment from the Hoare Trust in December that was just under £20k IIRC.
ETA - Hoare Trustess paid £15,590 into her account on 22 December 2023 Constance Marten trial: Dead baby 'well cared for' by parents, court told

 

[Nikynoo]

No, it's not huge - but if they were living in Ilford in Essex then rent shouldn't have been more than around 1k a month. Then if they had no commute costs, no dependant children etc it should be perfectly adequate. Didn't their landlord say there was unpaid rent and CM had debts to the tune of £25k? If that's the case, then where was the 50k she received in the space of 4.5 months going?

IIRC they were in a property at Coldharbour estate for two years or so before moving in August/September 2023. I think it likely it would be bigger than 1 bedroom. I would estimate rent to be 1800-2000 per month, then you have council tax and utilities on top. The stipend may have covered these but what about food etc? If CM was in receipt of that stipend and other trust monies, then would she be entitled to any benefits?

 

[choc drop]

What slightly mystifies me is why the family didn't use the trust fund to purchase a flat during the stable 2012-16 years when she was living in London. It would have stopped her haemorrhaging money on rent and provided security from the sort of landlords that will no fault evict if you even look at them funny.

This is MOO, but probably as they could already see a flat wouldn't be treated well / fit with an itinerant, dysfunctional life. Or the trust may not have had the funds or discretion for a large pay-out. Equally CM could have used it to pay a mortgage but didn't....