Constance Marten case — I feel the police have some responsibility too

[Siff]

I know Constance Marten and her partner made dangerous and illegal choices, and I’m not excusing that — a baby died and that’s heartbreaking. But I can’t stop thinking about the way the case was handled and whether the police have some responsibility in how things unfolded.

As a mum of four who’s struggled mentally after birth, I keep thinking: if I had just given birth, was vulnerable, and felt like the whole world was hunting me down — would I have thought clearly? Probably not. The media coverage was intense, and the police were everywhere. The pressure must have been overwhelming.

I honestly believe the fear created by the police operation pushed them into making more and more desperate and risky decisions to stay hidden. It wasn’t just a search — it felt like a witch hunt. No safeguarding, no attempt to reach her as a vulnerable mother, just a hard push to capture and punish.

I think that approach had consequences. The police must take some responsibility for creating the kind of fear and pressure that led to this tragedy. The way they went about it likely made things worse — not better — for the baby.

It’s easy to say she was selfish or unstable, but mental health in the postnatal period is fragile. People don’t always think rationally when terrified. I just wish there had been more humanity in how it was all handled.
Anyone else feel the same?

I have seen that documentary and the shots of the poiice going through the muck and rubbish in the carrier bag that concealed Victoria's body is awful. Obviously, the moment of discovery is not shown but the casual and grotesque disregard that this couple had for their newborn and life and then in death is shocking. How terrible for the officers who had to make that discovery, like you i hope they have been supported.

Just a point of fact her body wasn't hundreds of miles away, they were arrested in Brighton and her body was in a shed in an allotment in Brighton

Ah that's OK then 😂

What a weird response. It's just a point of fact. You said something factually incorrect. At no point did I imply that makes anything 'ok'.

Were these two sentenced yet?

They’ll be sentenced on 15th September.

Thanks

The court is assembling for sentencing. BBC is live reporting from court.

Again the pair of them acting like star crossed lovers. They are unbelievable.

I wondered if they would turn up for sentencing, but I suppose they thought this is the last time they will meet for a long time.

And now being told off for passing notes to each other. Absolutely baffling.

It did look like a witch hunt for sure i can only agree with you.
I did not quite understand why they were chased like criminals as soon as the mum got pregnant. Likely because she is from a high up family tied to the royals(the dad was one of Diana's and Charle's page if I remember well).
Lets look at what would have happened if they had been allowed to stay warm in the flat they were living in, the mother having been allowed to have a normal peacefull pregnancy and not have to be chased and forced to give birth in a car. Who would really chose to be that uncomfortable? Always question what you hear and see, do not judge right away, you were never walking in her shoes.
She was not left with much choice except surrendering her new born once again(her previous baby had been taken away from her she was a scarred grieving mother).
Her parents simply did not want her to soil their family reputation by having their daughter create a family with a "shady partner", the one she had chosen to be her kid's dad.
ok I do not know all of the story but enough to think this story is warped and only shows us one side of the story(the wealthy family and police side story)
Im not one to believe only one side of a story, having been the black sheep and scapegoated by my own family. Again I am not projecting my story either on this, but I am aware that what we are being fed by the news and "important people of authority" is not always the truth and often the twisted side of the truth(and that is spoken from experience).
Please consider this point of view without feeling the need to insult and desecrate my thoughts on this.
Have compassion for a mother who did not get the chance to live a normal pregnancy as she was being hounded and forced to camp out in the cold winter months with her new born baby.
a mother who lost her baby by circumstances that were pushed on her, cornered like a scared fox would be in a hunt that could only lead to a dramatic outcome.

Anything to say about her 4 older children, who were found to be so badly neglected and at such risk of harm that a court removed them from her care?

Or the fact that she lived in a tent surrounded by bottles of piss when pregnant with her first baby - by choice, because there was no hunt or chase or threat then (other than those her and Mark Gordon conjured up in their minds)? She was "allowed to stay warm in her flat" then, but made a conscious choice not to. What does that tell you about her ability to make safe rational decisions about a newborn baby's welfare?

I suggest you DO look into it then instead of simply taking her side.

They were chased like criminals because they scum and their child was at risk.

They ran because they were worried their child would be removed because all of their other children were removed because they are shit parents.

How are you affording them sympathy? How many children have to be removed for you to stop caping for the poor oppressed privileged middle class woman?

nope she was not allowed to stay warm, they wanted to take her baby even before she was born. She had to hide to be able to give birth. You obviously have no idea what lenghts wealthy reputable families can go to to protect their "family ties". The kids she had were removed from her on order of her powerfull family, likely because she strayed from the herd.
There are accounst from her close friends that she was a good mother.
Collect more info and ask yourself the right questions, you obviously only see one side of the story. Compassion starts here, looking in and questioning, always question what you hear and see, even in your close circle and even more in the news and internet.
Who is right who is wrong? all matters is to see through the goggles of compassion, especially if you have been leading an easy and comfy life. Bear in mind that not everyone has that chance, even born in a wealthy circle. Its not all roses and honey.

They had 4 children removed from their care due to neglect.
Do you have sympathy for the children?

I'm talking about her first baby, before she was even on the radar of social services.

It appears that it's you who needs to check the facts of the case, perhaps you could start with the "agreed facts" from the trial (ie the facts as agreed by Marten and Gordon that did not have to be argued or proven in court because they were agreed by all parties).

Judge is speaking now, his remarks broadcast live.

Please do enlighten us with your knowledge about nobility 🙄. The partner was a rapist, he pushed her out a window. All their previous children were removed. They are scum. And having a rich family only worked in her favour. Her mother wanted to help her. But she picked a man over her children. And one died and was left in a Lidl bag. Horrific.

I agree. Clair Wills has an interesting perspective on this case in the LRB - long but worth a read!

@Chamille Did you make up that load of baloney yourself or did AI help you?
Maybe acquaint yourself with the actual facts.

RTFT.

Constance Marten's family were buying them a flat in London out of her trust fund. She refused it and chose to try to live in a tent with a baby. The older children were removed by social care for their own safety, Marten's family had.no control over that, that's a legal process no rich family can control.

Her friends saying she was a good mother is proof of nothing, I bet every parent who's ever had a child removed could find someone they know to say they were good parents. Social care can't take children and judges can't make legal orders to permanently remove children without serious evidence of harm to those children.

Why is all of your compassion for two adults with financial resources most people can only dream of, who chose to harm their children and ultimately cause the death of one of them? Where's your compassion form
the children they harmed, let down and damaged, or the one they caused the death of? Strange kind of 'compassion'.

again, you do not know if that info is the truth.The family could say anything and have it published. Were you present? Were you in the family?
You only know what the news feeds you. The policen mobilised in huge numbers seem odd.
When a child is endangered, in my experience as a whistle blower, often the social services do nothing about it or too late. A mother has not had a baby yet and a huge withchunt is put in place. allow me to wonder and ponder.

Indeed sentencing has been given. Why there’s a continued arguing about the couple, on here, is beyond me.