Aristocrat, Partner Convicted Manslaughter Newborn UK

Constance "Toots" Marten, a member of a prominent British aristocratic family with close ties to the royal family, and her partner Mark Gordon, a convicted rapist, were found guilty of the gross negligence manslaughter of their newborn daughter Victoria, whose body was discovered in a shopping bag in an allotment shed in Brighton in 2023. Marten, once a society 'It girl' and childhood playmate of Princes William and Harry, had renounced her privileged life to live off the grid with Gordon, with whom she had four other children placed into care. Gordon, who served 22 years in a US prison for rape, went on the run with Marten and their newborn, leading to a nationwide manhunt. The couple had been living in harsh conditions, including sleeping rough in winter, before their arrest. The case highlights a tragic fall from grace for Marten, whose family had deep aristocratic and royal connections, including her grandmother being a goddaughter of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. This grim story contrasts starkly with Marten's former life of privilege and societal standing.