Constance Marten & Mark Gordon - Baby A case

[SportMum1982]

What have I just read? What the actual fuck is wrong with the world. That poor baby. These utter idiots. Sorry I’m so so angry.

Constance Marten and partner ‘killed baby to keep her out of care’

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/24e56090-f175-4bf8-ac07-380621d9954f?shareToken=186074e86c05c4df704ef1889186acdc

This evidence wasn't presented at the first trial though.

Then it must be being used as evidence as to MG's character and behaviour in a maternity ward. The article linked to doesn't say what his sentence was for assaulting the two police officers, although he admitted the offences. Do we know it wasn't revealed in the last trial or were there reporting restrictions?

It wasn't reported. Maybe reporting restrictions but why are there not restrictions now if so? It's interesting how the law works.

If they had Sure they would be playing the card !!
MY POINT

They would have had a psychological assessment done, there’s no doubt. But it’s unlikely either of them have a mental illness. As you say, this would have been discussed already. Perhaps one or both of them have a personality disorder ( not the same as mental illness).

Folie a deux. Is that a real thing or just a journalistic conveniece? It seems to apply in some cases, incomprehensible as it is to most of us.

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/25201273.constance-marten-partner-convicted-rape-us-court-told/

Assessments (of any type) are done and used if the court agree in evidence, to support and inform the court decision.

Its not about playing any card, the court need to know whether any special adjustments or requirements are needed but also later in sentencing (if convicted).

Just saw that Constance Martin and Mark Gordon have been found guilty of causing their daughter's death

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jul/14/constance-marten-and-mark-gordon-guilty-convicted-over-daughters-death

What a weird couple.
Poor children of theirs.

All the new details coming out are making her position a lot clearer. I said early on it seemed like he was abusive and in complete control of her. A shattered spleen? Jesus wept. A man who broke into a woman’s house armed to the teeth and raped and tortured her over the course of several hours at 14 years old and essentially grew up in the American prison system is not likely to have changed for the better.

This case, and the horrific death of baby Victoria really shows why dv and coercive control has to be taken seriously from the start. I am not saying Constance Marten is innocent, she should be convicted absolutely, but she clearly is very easy manipulated, paranoid and vulnerable and her family knew this (the whole cult thing- I actually remember that cult being in the news years ago). I hope she gets the help she needs whilst serving her hopefully lengthy sentence and I hope she comes to understand that she could have prevented the death of her baby.

Her mother is a psychotherapist. I find that concerning.

A horrible killing.

Nothing to stop you being vulnerable and predatory. Marten directed her hate at the wrong person, CCed often do.

I would suggest taking a look here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd11x1xgj78o
Coercion and control maybe, but a woman absolutely determined to be with him and place him above her children, also

Why? Doesnt everyone have a relative who is off the rails somewhere? Why would it reflect on her mother? Are you suggesting that all mentally ill children are made that way by their mothers? That viewpoint has largely been discredited.

I wasn’t disputing that she has prioritised him over her children and herself. Indeed, when they were arrested she, despite having given birth unaided, moving around constantly, carrying all their belongings, caring for an infant- was more concerned about HIM. Obviously he is her number one priority in this life and their children have all paid the price, the youngest- the ultimate price. It is sad that women do this, I don’t know what to call it- obsession? I don’t know. Hopefully they will both receive long prison sentences and she might actually snap out of it and realise what she’s done. I imagine the guilt would be crushing.
she’s obviously the mouthpiece in the relationship as she’s well educated and probably very eloquent and articulate, but I don’t think that would make her the dominant personality, especially if she’s also afraid of him like the courts surmised. She just can’t seem to understand that her life has been in freefall since she met him. Very sad. I hope the other four children have new families and are very loved and cared for.

The torturer should still be in prison, turns out. He got 40 years, let out early to meet CM & kill his kid.

The people who treated him said he’d move on to killing. Presumably CM is only alive by mistake; he tried to stop the ambulance reaching her after he threw her out of the window.

Marten’s interesting, but only cos you wonder how a human can turn so twisted and stay sane. She’ll be out in a few years.

Massive well done to SS for saving the other four children.

An interesting piece about how the couple behaved in court, still obsessed with one another and repeatedly attempting to obstruct and delay the proceedings.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn0zkg4g4zyo

It seems to me very clear that what drew marten to Gordon was not any sense of vulnerability, this is not a woman who is in the thrall of a domestic abuser who will one day see the light

What drew her to him is that they are both absolute cunts.

After reading that article it makes sense how the second trial was behind closed doors. They tried to make it into a circus. They just cannot see they had any part in Victoria's death. Unbelievable.

Their actions were driven by their own selfish desires

there might be coercive control involved, there might be depression and paranoid thoughts against what they probably viewed as the system

but both of them put themselves and each other above the needs of their children. It’s so often seen in relationships when children are taken away the parents are obsessed with each other and thrive off their relationship everyone else comes second

they are going to prison not secure hospital (they may at some point if they become unwell) neither have been deemed unfit to stand trial

They're both so delusional and paranoid.

They can't see the chaos they brought to the court room perfectly reflected the chaotic way they parented their children and their ongoing obsession for one another.

Why did they have to.keep having children.
Contraception available.
They can do what they like as a couple then, live in tents etc nobody would care.

Because they both believe they are entitled to

That's what it seems to me. In the police interview she referred to Victoria's body as 'it'. She spent the two trials pissing around and flirting with him. He spent it trying to insist he should be allowed a desk and time to understand law.

They don't care about their children, they care about what rights they both perceive they have.

But it hasn't got them anywhere.
They will now both be disliked and end up.in prison.