In a case that has transfixed the British public and stirred fierce debate about justice, motherhood, and the limits of empathy in the courtroom, Constance Marten has broken her silence from behind bars. The 38-year-old, convicted alongside her partner Mark Gordon, 51, of the manslaughter by gross negligence of their infant daughter Victoria, has given a rare and impassioned interview from prison—one that lays bare her grievances with the criminal justice process, its key players, and the media’s role in her high-profile retrial.
Marten and Gordon’s story first gripped headlines in March 2023, when the decomposed body of their baby girl was found in a shopping bag in Brighton. The couple, who had gone on the run for 53 days—evading police by sleeping outdoors, using aliases, and covering their faces—were ultimately apprehended after a burnt-out car near Bolton led investigators to evidence of a recent birth. Their disappearance, motivated by a desire to prevent Victoria from being taken into care as had happened with their four other children, ended in tragedy and a murder investigation that would last years.
According to BBC News, the pair were first convicted of perverting the course of justice, child cruelty, and concealing the birth of a child. But it was the retrial for manslaughter by gross negligence—after an initial jury failed to reach a verdict—that would see Marten and Gordon found guilty at the Old Bailey in July 2025. The judge, Mark Lucraft KC, accused them of trying to "sabotage" and "manipulate" the proceedings, as the prosecution argued that baby Victoria likely died from hypothermia or was smothered while co-sleeping with her mother in a thin tent during a cold, wet January.
Throughout the trial and retrial, Marten maintained that Victoria’s death was a tragic accident, claiming she had simply fallen asleep holding her newborn. Yet, the jury was unconvinced. When the guilty verdict was read, both Marten and Gordon refused to stand—Marten shaking her head and sighing in visible distress.
Now, with sentencing scheduled for September 15, Marten has taken her case to the public in an interview published in the August 6, 2025 edition of The View Magazine, a quarterly publication for women in the criminal justice system. The interview, conducted during the second month of her retrial, is as much a personal lament as it is a scathing critique of the British legal system and its leading figures.
In her own words, Marten compared prosecutors Tom Little KC and Joel Smith to "dementors from Harry Potter," accusing them of a profound lack of empathy and a relentless, demeaning approach. "Tom Little and Joel Smith remind me of dementors from Harry Potter. There’s no empathy. I felt like I was being grilled as a serial killer," she told The View Magazine. She described the prosecutors’ tone as "disgusting, like they’re reprimanding a small child," and claimed they "laugh and joke with others" but were "always condescending" with her. "They’re paid to make angels look like devils and devils appear angelic," Marten added, reflecting on the unbearable pain of discussing her daughter’s death in court.
Her criticisms didn’t stop there. Marten targeted Judge Mark Lucraft KC, the most senior judge at the Old Bailey, for what she described as inhumane treatment during the trial. She recounted traveling "seven hours in a metal cage" from HMP Bronzefield to court each day, and said the judge allowed her to attend proceedings "every day in pain" after she had "begged" for a dentist appointment for three weeks. "He says he wakes at the same time I do, but he doesn’t travel seven hours in a metal cage," Marten remarked, highlighting what she saw as a lack of understanding from the bench.
Marten also raised concerns about the relationship between the prosecution and the press, particularly the BBC. She accused Tom Little KC of visually alerting BBC journalists "before key court moments," suggesting a closeness that she felt undermined the fairness of the proceedings. "Tom Little seemed to cue the press, especially the BBC, before key court moments," she said, echoing the magazine’s own criticism of media-prosecution ties.
The case, already compared to other high-profile trials like those of Lucy Letby and Beinash Batool, has ignited discussion about the treatment of defendants—especially women—in the criminal justice system. The View Magazine noted that Marten’s story had become "one of the most high-profile trials in recent memory," drawing attention for its tragic circumstances and the couple’s desperate flight from authorities.
Despite her convictions, Marten is not done fighting. As reported by BBC News, she is now seeking permission to appeal her conviction for gross negligence manslaughter. The Court of Appeal has confirmed receipt of her application, though a previous attempt to appeal her child cruelty conviction was rejected in February 2025. Between their two trials, Marten and Gordon also launched an unsuccessful appeal to have all convictions overturned.
Pathologists remain uncertain about the exact cause of baby Victoria’s death, though the prosecution argued it was most likely due to hypothermia or accidental smothering in the harsh, cold conditions the couple endured while on the run. Marten and Gordon’s defense insisted the death was a tragic accident, but the court was swayed by evidence of neglect and the couple’s efforts to evade authorities for nearly two months.
As their sentencing approaches, the case continues to provoke strong opinions across the country. Some see Marten’s interview as an attempt to recast herself as a victim of a cold, bureaucratic system, while others argue that the prosecution and judiciary acted with appropriate rigor given the seriousness of the charges and the tragic outcome. The prosecution’s approach, described by Marten as lacking empathy, is defended by others as necessary for justice—especially in cases involving vulnerable children.
Meanwhile, Marten’s complaints about her treatment in custody and during transport to court have prompted renewed scrutiny of the conditions faced by women in the British prison system. Calls for more humane treatment—particularly for those awaiting trial or sentencing—are not new, but Marten’s high-profile status has amplified the debate.
With Marten and Gordon due to be sentenced in September 2025, and an appeal pending, the story is far from over. The case remains a stark reminder of the complexities and emotional toll at the intersection of family, tragedy, and the law.
