Jury discharged in trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon over death of their newborn baby

The jury in the trial of Constance Marten and her partner Mark Gordon has been discharged after failing to reach verdicts.

Marten, 37, who is from a wealthy family, and Gordon, 50, were charged over the death of their newborn baby daughter Victoria.

They were each charged with manslaughter by gross negligence, causing or allowing the death of a child, concealing the birth of a child, child cruelty and perverting the course of justice.

Both deny wrongdoing.

Jurors were earlier given a majority direction after deliberating for some 60 hours. Judge Mark Lucraft KC said he would accept verdicts on which nine of the 10-strong jury were agreed.

Jurors began deliberating on 30 April, but on Wednesday were discharged after more than 72 hours of deliberation.

The trial began at the Old Bailey on 25 January.

A nationwide search for Marten and Gordon was launched after a placenta was found in the couple’s burnt-out car on a motorway in Bolton, Greater Manchester, in January 2023.

It culminated in the couple’s arrests in Brighton last February, with the child’s body found days afterwards.

Source:   news.sky.com