The Audio Long Read Best of 2025: ‘A relentless, destructive energy’: inside the trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon
Jan 2, 2026
This episode dives into a harrowing case involving Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, charged with manslaughter after the tragic death of their newborn. It explores the couple's alarming lifestyle, their life on the run, and the chaotic courtroom dynamics, including emotional testimonies and shocking revelations about Gordon's past. The prosecution's evidence and the couple's defense unfold against a backdrop of privilege, loss, and critical social worker warnings that went unheeded, leading to a gripping examination of justice and responsibility.
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Burnt Car Sparked National Obsession
- The couple's burned-out car and placental discovery sparked a national manhunt.
- The baby's name was Victoria and she lived for at least two weeks while hidden under Martin's coat.
Court Limits Background To Protect Fairness
- The judge limited prejudicial background like Gordon's US convictions to protect trial fairness.
- Family court history remained partially relevant because it explained why the couple fled.
CCTV Mapped Their Frantic Travels
- Tom Little KC led the prosecution with CCTV tracing the couple's travels across England.
- The prosecution argued Victoria died from hypothermia or suffocation from dangerous co-sleeping.