Aristocrat Constance Marten has found herself at the center of a tragic and controversial case as she defends her decision to live in a tent with her newborn baby, Victoria. The couple, Marten and her partner Mark Gordon, are on trial after their daughter died while they were camping on the South Downs in wintry conditions last year.
The shocking discovery of Victoria’s badly decomposed body in a rubbish-filled shopping bag inside an allotment shed has left many questioning the circumstances surrounding her death. Marten, 36, has been cross-examined at the Old Bailey about their decision to live off the grid to hide from authorities.
During her testimony, Marten insisted that what happened to her baby “could’ve happened to anyone” and described the newborn’s death as a “horrible accident.” She refuted claims that Victoria died from hypothermia, stating, “She did not die of hypothermia – I would not have put my baby in a situation where she would have died from hypothermia.”
Marten also defended her actions, claiming that living in a tent was a “self-sacrifice” for her baby and that she gave Victoria the best care possible under the circumstances. She admitted to lying before and said she would lie again “to save my child.”
The trial has shed light on Marten’s beliefs about parenting and the care of children, with her stating that “babies don’t require that much to survive” and that children are a parent’s “pride and joy.” She also expressed concerns about social services and her influential family, suggesting that those taking children into care could be influenced by “monetary gain.”
As the trial continues, the public awaits the outcome of this tragic case that has raised questions about parental responsibility, the care of vulnerable children, and the lengths some will go to protect their loved ones.