Despite possessing a £2.4 million trust fund, an aristocrat has been granted legal aid for her trial and family court battle over her older children. Constance Marten, 38, even bragged behind bars about soon being able to access her trust fund and spend the money as she pleases.
The wealthy heiress, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison earlier this month for killing her baby, will also benefit from another fund that matures when she turns 40.
Taxpayers have been left to cover the costs of the couple’s Old Bailey trial, retrial, family court proceedings, and an upcoming appeal. This is despite the existence of the trust funds and the £18,000 Marten had in her Metrobank account at the time of her arrest. The news comes as a Met Police officer jailed for raping two women after thinking he was ‘above the law’.
Marten and Gordon, 51, fled with their newborn daughter Victoria in 2023 to prevent her from being taken into care, triggering a £1.2 million nationwide manhunt. The couple’s four older children had already been removed by social services to protect them from harm before they absconded with Victoria.
After receiving assistance from the prison chaplaincy service to plan Victoria’s funeral, Marten was jailed for 14 years. A judge at the Old Bailey condemned her and Gordon’s arrogance and “lack of thought for anyone”, reports the Mirror.
Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that the couple have already claimed over £400,000 in legal aid. The final court bill from their lawyers is yet to be submitted but is anticipated to exceed £600,000.
According to the Daily Mail, the couple have already claimed more than £400,000 in legal aid.
Gordon has already claimed £367,210 in legal aid. This includes over £250,500 for legal representation in his first trial, £55,459 for his civil battle for custody of his children, and £56,773 for his retrial.
Gordon, who was previously convicted for raping a woman in Florida at the age of 14, dismissed his barristers halfway through the case.
Marten, an aristocrat, and Gordon were found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence, child cruelty, perverting the course of justice, and concealing the birth of a child following a complex two-year case.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Mark Lucraft disclosed that Marten, a mother of five, had been bragging about her wealth while in prison. He told her: “On finances, I note that you told the probation officer that you believe you will have access to the discretionary trust in the future and that the restrictions on access may fall away when you turn 40. You also mention another separate trust that you will also have access to.”
