Constance Marten sentenced to 14 years for baby's death; isolation in prison and family tensions loom

Constance Marten was sentenced Monday at the Old Bailey to 14 years in prison for gross negligence manslaughter in the death of her newborn daughter, Victoria, during the couple's flight with the infant in freezing weather after her birth.

The judge ruled that Victoria died from hypothermia after the family moved into a flimsy tent on the South Downs in East Sussex, three days after the baby was born. The case has riveted Britain as prosecutors described a pattern of neglect of the gravest type that contributed to the infant's death. Marten and her partner, Mark Gordon, were found guilty in a retrial of gross negligence manslaughter, after earlier convictions for child cruelty, concealing Victoria’s birth and perverting the course of justice. The verdict capped a dramatic fall from a life once described in family circles as gilded by heritage and privilege.

Marten arrived back behind prison walls Monday evening at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, greeted by the noise of inmates banging on cell doors. Prison sources said she will be kept under close surveillance because of safety concerns and has chosen to isolate herself rather than engage with others. She shares a unit with other high-profile child killers, including Lucy Letby and Beinash Batool, but has largely shunned social interaction and educational activities, spending long stretches in her cell. A jail source said Marten behaves as if she believes she is above the institution and those inside it, a demeanor noted by staff and peers alike.

In court, Marten had shunned the one person willing to publicly offer empathy and support on her behalf: her mother, Virginie de Selliers. De Selliers attended the sentencing, reading a character reference in the well of the Old Bailey that described her daughter as having grown from a spirited, adventurous girl into a brave and fair young woman. She said she hoped the court would consider mercy in her daughter’s future, and she expressed horror at the way media attention and court coverage had portrayed her child. Marten did not acknowledge her mother’s presence in the courtroom and, at times, appeared distressed by the back-and-forth between de Selliers and security personnel.

The fates and feelings of Marten’s parents have long been part of the public narrative. Napier Marten, her father, who separated from Virginie de Selliers when Constance was nine, has also spoken of a desire to reconcile and see his daughter again. He had sought permission to visit her on remand, only to have those plans altered as Marten chose not to engage. A family friend said Napier would welcome an opportunity for a reunion, underscoring the strain and fragmentation that has characterized the family landscape since the trial began. De Selliers’s presence in court, juxtaposed with Constance’s distance from her, has been read by observers as a stark contrast between a mother seeking to bridge a broken bond and a daughter who has become increasingly isolated from family ties.

The case has its own peculiar backstory that has drawn public attention beyond the criminal findings. Some family associates suggested that Gordon, a convicted rapist who served time in the United States, exerted a coercive influence that helped to shape Constance’s trajectory after they met in 2016. The household’s dynamics, described by friends as controlling and toxic, have been cited as a destabilizing factor that contributed to the couple’s decision to go on the run with Victoria. Marten’s family members have indicated that they hoped removing Gordon from Marten’s life would prompt a shift in her behavior and outlook, though the couple’s bond persisted through the trial process.

Historical reporting tied Constance to a period in which her mother took her to Nigeria to spend time at the Synagogue Church of All Nations, an experience that several acquaintances say left her deeply unsettled. The trip occurred during Marten’s late teens and is said by some to have fundamentally altered her sense of self. Virginie de Selliers has declined to comment on the specifics of this episode, but family friends say it created lasting tensions with her daughter. A spokesman for the church denied the most serious allegations of abuse and noted that there was no verifiable link between Marten and the church beyond the time she spent there as a visitor. The enduring question for observers remains how much influence those early experiences, combined with Gordon’s presence, shaped Marten’s later decisions.

Now, Marten has applied for permission to appeal her conviction for manslaughter, a procedural step that could extend the legal process before any final resolution. In Bronzefield, officials say she has faced limited social contact and was barred from contacting or sending letters to Gordon while he was at another facility. The period ahead is likely to test whether she will pursue further appeals, adjust to life behind bars, or attempt to redefine her relationship with her past and with her family. Critics and supporters alike will watch whether the sentence serves as a deterrent and a reminder of the fragile line between personal autonomy and duty toward a newborn child.

The case continues to resonate not only because of the tragedy of a child lost under such controversial circumstances, but also because it intersects with questions about coercive relationships, family estrangement, and the extent to which public scrutiny can influence the outcomes of criminal justice. The Bronzefield and Old Bailey episodes will be referenced in ongoing discussions about child protection and accountability, particularly in the context of high-profile individuals whose personal lives become a proxy for broader social conversations. As Marten remains in custody, the path forward for her, her family, and the memory of Victoria will unfold within the confines of the legal system and the complex personal history that has defined this extraordinary case.