Constance Martin granted appeal over baby death sentence
Constance Martin has been given permission to appeal her 14-year sentence for manslaughter and child cruelty over the death of her baby Victoria.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Constance Martin, who was jailed for killing her baby while on the run with her partner, has been granted permission to appeal her sentence. A court date has not yet been set.
Martin and her partner Mark Gordon went on the run in January 2023 with their newborn baby after a manhunt was launched. They travelled across the country and at one point slept in a tent on the South Downs, where baby Victoria died. They were arrested in Brighton seven weeks later, and Victoria's body was found.
During the trial, the court heard that the couple had been on the run to prevent Victoria from being taken into care, as their other four children had been. The prosecution said the baby died from hypothermia. The couple were found guilty of manslaughter, child cruelty, concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice.
Martin was sentenced to 14 years in prison. She has now been given permission to appeal that sentence, as well as a renewed application for permission to appeal her manslaughter conviction. The appeal process is still at an early stage, with no court date confirmed.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | ITV |
|---|---|---|
| Constance Marten was granted permission to appeal her sentence. | ||
| Constance Marten had a renewed application for permission to appeal her manslaughter conviction. | · | |
| Constance Martin was sentenced to 14 years in prison. | · | |
| The couple were convicted of manslaughter, child cruelty, concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice. | · | |
| The prosecution reported that the baby died from hypothermia. | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
ITV1 provided a detailed recap of the case, including the manhunt, the trial, the conviction and the sentencing. It focused on the new appeal development and explained the legal context, including the renewed application to appeal the manslaughter conviction. The tone was factual and informative, with a clear summary for viewers who may not have followed the original story.
- “Constance Martin who was jailed for killing her baby while on the run with her partner has been given permission to appeal her sentence.”
- “A court date is yet to be set.”
5 News covered the story very briefly, stating the fact of the appeal permission without providing background or context. The report was part of a broader news bulletin and gave only the essential detail: that Constance Marten has been granted permission to appeal her 14-year sentence. No mention was made of the manslaughter conviction appeal or any further legal steps.
- “Constance Marten has been granted permission to appeal her 14-year sentence for the death of her baby girl Victoria.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.