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

[Obergine]

What baffles me is why they did things together when they were so distinctive as a couple and easy to identify that way. The poor mugshot of MG and lack of other images of him meant he could have gone to shops relatively anonymously.

 

[Smccat]

I think it would be hard to withdraw cash in branch without a passport or driving licence. Perhaps she still had a driving licence though.

I think proof of address and one photo ID is what’s needed

Oh ETA they’d both need to match, obviously.

 

[Zuleika]

What baffles me is why they did things together when they were so distinctive as a couple and easy to identify that way. The poor mugshot of MG and lack of other images of him meant he could have gone to shops relatively anonymously.

Shows how symbiotic they were ? They didn't want interference from anyone .

 

[Twittens]

Shows how symbiotic they were ? They didn't want interference from anyone .

Possibly also raises the spectre of coercive control again, though who may have been controlling whom is even less clear now than it was right back at the beginning imo.

 

[DianaWW]

Will we hear from social work during this trial?

Possibly next week if this is anything to go by:

‘Jurors were told they would hear forensic evidence and evidence from the couple’s family court proceedings next week.’

Aristocrat Constance Marten received nearly £50000 from her trust fund

Marten, 36, and her partner Mark Gordon, 49, are accused of killing their baby daughter Victoria in January, after running away to stop as their child prevent being taken away by social services.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Doughy]

What baffles me is why they did things together when they were so distinctive as a couple and easy to identify that way. The poor mugshot of MG and lack of other images of him meant he could have gone to shops relatively anonymously.

Yes I often think about this! He could've left her all warm and wrapped up with the baby whilst he went out to get supplies. The "other-race effect" meant he was much less likely to be recognised than her as well as the lack of public images of him.

 

[dotr]

MG seems to act like, and get treated by CM (not LE) like he is her treasured pet dog. A dog does not leave a loving mistress, imo, speculation,

MSN

''Constance Marten's boyfriend lay on the floor during questioning and claimed he was being treated like a 'dog' as the fugitive couple refused to tell police any details about their missing baby, court hears''​

 

[ShadowPuppet]

MG seems to act like, and get treated by CM (not LE) like he is her treasured pet dog. A dog does not leave a loving mistress, imo, speculation,

MSN

''Constance Marten's boyfriend lay on the floor during questioning and claimed he was being treated like a 'dog' as the fugitive couple refused to tell police any details about their missing baby, court hears''​

This was separate to CM though. I think this was more about:
1. Retaining some power/control in the situation
2. Not answering questions and finding any excuse to be ‘unable’ to answer
3. Knowledge that he can use this in court eg. “I kept saying I couldn’t concentrate as I was in pain, but no one would listen.”
The police kept calmly stating he had seen the nurse etc. and made the situational context of his comments very clear, as they too would have been aware how it could look and needed to remind him during the interview why they were still questioning him despite his discomfort.
All JMOO.

IMO, I think it could be both controlling each other in different ways, but his ‘victim’ attitude seems to indicate a certain ability to manipulate people into feeling he’s unable to do things that he (probably) could do. If it is a ‘victim’ attitude, it could also partially manipulate him into feeling he actually couldn’t do it. CM is no wilting flower (which is true for plenty of coercive control victims, but not all), but it’s not MG who ‘fell out the window’.

 

[Leannaf2721]

If that's the case then even more mysterious where the money is going because a week later they took out another 2k.

Perhaps she was trying to stash cash? As she couldn’t just withdraw one large sum?

 

[Observant-ADHD-ENFP-BSc]

If that's the case then even more mysterious where the money is going because a week later they took out another 2k.

It's possibly they were spending the money on provisions, when the car blew up, it had lots of stuff in it. Plus, we know 2k went up in smoke.

 

[Zuleika]

'Just to refresh my mind on how much money you'd need per month to live on in 2016/7 , has someone in here noted exactly when and where CM & MG began living together ?

 

[porkypies]

'Just to refresh my mind on how much money you'd need per month to live on in 2016/7 , has someone in here noted exactly when and where CM & MG began living together ?

I don't think anyone can answer that question.

 

[dotr]

'Just to refresh my mind on how much money you'd need per month to live on in 2016/7 , has someone in here noted exactly when and where CM & MG began living together ?

House Price Statistics - UK House Price Index

landregistry.data.gov.uk

Cost of Living in the UK

How Much Does It Cost to Live in the UK in 2025?

www.movingwaldo.com

 

[Nikynoo]

'Just to refresh my mind on how much money you'd need per month to live on in 2016/7 , has someone in here noted exactly when and where CM & MG began living together ?

Looking at CMs fb and the timeline re the first pregnancy, my best guess is the latter half of 2016 to early 2017.

 

[Alyce]

dbm

 

[rightsaidfred]

'Just to refresh my mind on how much money you'd need per month to live on in 2016/7 , has someone in here noted exactly when and where CM & MG began living together ?

How long is a piece of string?

However, at that time I was living in a 1 bed flat in Clapham which was £1300 + bills, which was about the going rate at the time.

 

[Obergine]

£2500 pcm isn't a lot to live on with 4 kids. I was paying £700 pcm for a room in a shared house in Hackney in 2009.

 

[Zuleika]

How long is a piece of string?

However, at that time I was living in a 1 bed flat in Clapham which was £1300 + bills, which was about the going rate at the time.

Makes me think I live in a different world ,not a small rural town in the NW !
My rent on a HA 2b/r flat has just gone up to £ £368 pcm.

 

[Smccat]

Good grief I can’t believe the costs down south guys.

 

[Rolypolyoly]

Makes me think I live in a different world ,not a small rural town in the NW !
My rent on a HA 2b/r flat has just gone up to £ £368 pcm.

Ours for a 3 bed in the SW is £550 but the going rate for the same property type for private rent in this area appears to be around £1500 - £2000 a month.
It's crazy!.