Mystery remains over death of baby Victoria who was ‘killed by runaway aristocrat mum Constance Marten and her partner’
THE death of a baby allegedly killed by her runaway aristocrat mum and partner remains a mystery, an inquest heard today.
Constance Marten, 35, and Mark Gordon, 48, were detained after little Victoria was found inside a locked shed on an allotment after a 54-day police search.
An inquest heard today how a cause of death has still not been established for the tot.
Baby Victoria’s date of birth is also not known before her tiny body was discovered on March 1.
Assistant Coroner Joanne Andrews adjourned the full inquest while the police investigation continues.
She said: “The inquest will only resumed if sufficient reason to do so.”
Marten and Gordon sparked a frantic nationwide hunt after placenta was found in a burning car on the M61 in Bolton on January 5.
They were detained in Brighton, East Sussex, on February 27 following a tip-off with the baby’s remains discovered two days later.
The couple named their baby Victoria before her tragic death.
She was found wrapped in a plastic bag and covered with nappies in a shed at the overgrown allotment near where Marten and Gordon were arrested.
The couple were previously charged with gross negligence manslaughter, concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice.
A hearing at the Old Bailey yesterday heard Marten and Gordon are now facing two further charges of child cruelty and causing or allowing the death of a child.
They are accused of causing 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 January 4 and February 27.
Marten and Gordon, who appeared via videolink, were remanded into custody ahead of a hearing on September 22.
No pleas have been entered but a provisional trial is set for January 2.