The mother of aristocrat Constance Marten has made an emotional plea to the court ahead of her daughter's sentencing for killing her baby. Virginie de Selliers called for Marten's "courage, loyalty and deep sense of fairness" to be considered when deciding her punishment.
Marten, 38, and her convicted rapist partner Mark Gordon, 51, were found guilty of the manslaughter of their newborn daughter Victoria in January 2023. The baby died while the couple lived in a tent on the South Downs after going on the run from authorities.
Character references presented
Mrs de Selliers sat in the well of the Old Bailey on Monday as character references were read out by Marten's barrister Tom Godfrey. The couple also face sentencing for child cruelty, concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice following two trials spanning six months each.
In her statement, Mrs de Selliers said she was "horrified" at how her daughter had been characterised in court and in the media. She insisted this did not reflect "the daughter I remember".
Mother's emotional plea
"What I do know is she showed sheer determination when fighting for her children and her daughter Victoria," Mrs de Selliers stated. "It is my sincere hope that when considering her future, her courage and loyalty and deep sense of fairness are not overlooked."
She described her daughter as having been "an inquisitive and adventurous little girl" with a "feisty spirit" who "never shied away from standing up for what she believed". However, Mrs de Selliers also acknowledged her daughter's "fragility" and struggles with "confidence and self-worth".
Family and friends speak out
Marten's step-father Guy de Selliers, who married her mother in 1998, described her as a "kind and generous" person with a "sense of adventure". He said: "I had a close relationship until she met Mark Gordon and became estranged from the family."
Housekeeper Cecilia Robayo said Marten was a "sweet, polite, thoughtful young woman" with a "generous, kind heart and caring nature". Friend Mikisa Robert, who met Marten in 2007 when she was volunteering in Uganda, praised her "kindness and generosity" and said: "Constance made a deep and lasting impact on my life."
Judge Mark Lucraft KC will sentence Marten and Gordon at the Old Bailey later.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
