Constance Marten and her lover Mark Gordon will appear in court charged with manslaughter – as a post mortem the baby found dead in woodland will take place later today.
Marten, 35, and Gordon, 48, are due to appear at Crawley Magistrates’ Court also charged with single counts of gross negligence manslaughter, concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice.
It comes after the remains of a newborn were found close to a public footpath in an area not yet searched by police in Brighton on Wednesday. A post mortem examination is due to take place on the infant later today.
Meanwhile, hundreds gathered to attend the vigil outside St Mary Magdalen Church in Coldean, East Sussex, tonight – close to where the remains of the baby were found.
Mourners were seen holding candles and lighting a small fire outside the church to pay tribute.
Aristocrat Constance Marten, 35, who was missing with her lover Mark Gordon, 48
Mark Gordon, 48, and Constance Marten, 35, had been missing for 54 days, sleeping rough in a tent
Mourners gather for a vigil being held at St Mary Magdalen Church, Coldean, East Sussex this evening
It comes as the Crown Prosecution Service last night confirmed it has authorised charges to be brought against Marten, 35, and partner Gordon, 48, who will appear at Crawley Magistrates’ Court tomorrow morning. The couple are also to be charged with concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice.
Aristocrat Marten and Gordon were arrested in Brighton on Monday night, ending a nationwide police hunt that began when they fled seven weeks ago with their baby.
But the couple were without the newborn when officers swooped in to arrest them.
Barry Hughes, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London North, said: ‘The CPS has authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Constance Marten and Mark Gordon with gross negligence manslaughter.
‘Constance Marten, aged 35, and Mark Gordon, aged 48, have also been charged with concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice.
‘These charges arise from their arrest on Monday as a result of a lengthy police investigation to establish their whereabouts and that of their baby.’
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police added: The CPS has authorised detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command to charge two people following the death of a baby..
‘Constance Marten, of no fixed address, and Mark Gordon, 48, of no fixed address, were charged on the evening of Thursday with gross negligence manslaughter.
‘They were also charged with concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice. They will appear in custody at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 3 March.’
A statement continued: ‘Officers found the body of a baby while searching the Hollingbury area of Brighton on the afternoon of Wednesday, 1 March.
‘The baby is yet to be formally identified and a post-mortem examination will take ‘place on Friday, 3 March.’
A vigil being held at St Mary Magdalen Church, Coldean, East Sussex, near to where remains were found
Mourners were seen holding candles and lighting a small fire outside the church to pay tribute
Officers have so far not been unable to confirm the infant’s gender and a post-mortem has not yet taken place
Sussex Police Chief Superintendent James Collis (left) and Metropolitan Police Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford (right) carry floral tributes on Golf Drive in Brighton
The remains of a newborn were found close to a public footpath in an area not yet searched by police in Brighton yesterday.
Officers have so far not been unable to confirm the infant’s gender and a post-mortem has not yet taken place, while police say it is also too early to provide a specific date of death.
Speaking at a press conference today, Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford confirmed the case has been referred to the police watchdog.
He said: ‘At this stage we have not yet been able to confirm the baby’s gender and post-mortem examination has not yet taken place.
‘Despite this, based on our inquiries we’ve carried out so far, we believe sadly the baby may have been dead for some time before they were found. It is too early for us to provide a more specific date.
‘Because we believe the death occurred during the course of a missing person investigation we have made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). This is standard protocol for such circumstances.
A police officer stands at a cordon around the location where it is believed the body was found yesterday
Police have searched every shed at the Roedale Valley Allotments near where Constance Marten and Mark Gordon were arrested and will remain on site for some time
A spokesman for the IOPC said in a statement that the watchdog is ‘currently assessing the referral to determine what, if any, further action is required from us’.
Det Supt Basford added that officers investigating the case are ‘devastated’ by its outcome as he confirmed Marten and Gordon remain in custody – with the warrant for their detention extended until Thursday evening.
‘We are truly devastated by the outcome and we know this emotion is being felt here in Brighton and across the country today,” he said.
‘We know there are still many unanswered questions, and it is important that we give the investigation team the time and space they need to establish more details about the circumstances of this tragic death.’
Chief Superintendent James Collis, of Sussex Police, added that officers have been ‘overwhelmed by kind messages and support’ from the public and thanked ‘the huge number of people who have helped or offered to help in any way that they can’.
