A couple from Eltham have appeared in court charged with manslaughter after the remains of a baby girl were found “wrapped in a plastic bag under nappies in an allotment shed”.
Constance Marten, 35, and Mark Gordon, 48, appeared at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on March 3 having also been charged with concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice.
The couple spoke only to confirm their names, dates of birth and that they were of no fixed abode during the short hearing.
Marten and Gordon were arrested in Brighton on February 27 after police had attempted to establish their whereabouts over a number of weeks.
Their arrests sparked a major two-day search operation which led to the infant’s discovery two days later.
Police have confirmed that the baby was a girl and have been told that she was named Victoria.
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A post-mortem examination held on March 3 was unable to establish the cause of baby Victoria’s death, but further tests will take place.
The case has been referred to the police watchdog by the Metropolitan Police, and the Independent Office for Police Conduct said in a statement that it is “currently assessing the referral to determine what, if any, further action is required from us”.
Marten and Gordon were not required to enter any pleas to the charges and will next appear at the Old Bailey on March 31.
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