Constance Marten: Aristocrat accused of killing newborn says babies ‘don’t require that much to survive’

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy An aristocrat accused of killing her newborn baby has defended the conditions her daughter was left in while she and her partner were on the run, telling jurors: “Babies don’t require that much to survive.” Constance Marten, 36, and her partner, Mark Gordon, 49, are accused of gross negligence manslaughter after their daughter Victoria died while they were camping on the South Downs in wintry conditions last year. Babies don’t require that much to survive – they just need food, warmth and care.” Pressed during cross-examination on the conditions the infant was forced to endure while the pair were on the run, the mother later insisted: “They can cope as long as me as a parent can give her what she needs.” She added: “You don’t need that many items for a newborn baby.” open image in gallery Constance Marten, Mark Gordon and baby Victoria in a shop in East Ham, London, while on the run from authorities last year The court previously heard Marten and Gordon had gone off grid to hide from authorities in a bid to keep Victoria after their four other children were taken into care, with the pair also concealing the mother’s pregnancy. open image in gallery The plastic Lidl bag in which the body of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon’s baby Victoria was found Prosecutor Joel Smith told the court Victoria in her own faeces, to which Marten replied: “I found it too difficult to change her nappy after she passed, so I wrapped her in a blanket and put her in the bag. Mr Smith asked: “Is putting her in a ‘bag for life’ the best that anyone could give her?” Marten replied: “Of course it’s not.” She caveated: “But that’s not my child… it’s a part of her, but it’s not her… I think we’re all more than our flesh, we’re spirit, our body is our casing.” But pressed again, Marten told jurors: “After she passed away, of course she could’ve had better.” However, she insisted that what happened to her baby “could’ve happened to anyone”, describing the newborn’s death as a “horrible accident”.