The former boyfriend of Constance Marten expressed deep concern, stating that her fate seemed sealed from the moment she entered a relationship with her convicted rapist partner, Mark Gordon. Francis Abolo, who had previously been in a relationship with the aristocratic Marten, disclosed that he received alarming information about Gordon from acquaintances after Marten and Gordon were found guilty of the manslaughter of their newborn daughter Victoria while evading authorities and living in a tent on the South Downs in January 2023.

Abolo mentioned that he was informed about Gordon’s violent tendencies, drug abuse, and excessive alcohol consumption. Reflecting on his past with Marten, Abolo regretted not taking more action to protect her from Gordon, whom he described as a dangerous individual with a troubled history of criminal offenses.

Gordon’s troubled past included a heinous incident in 1989 when, at the age of 14, he held a woman captive in Florida for over four hours, committing a violent rape armed with a knife and hedge clippers. Abolo expressed remorse for not intervening more decisively to safeguard Marten from Gordon’s harmful influence, acknowledging that he now bears the weight of missed opportunities to prevent the tragic events that unfolded.

Describing his initial impression of Marten when they first met in 2015, Abolo recalled her eloquence, beauty, and magnetic presence. Despite Marten’s affluent background and aspirations for a family, Abolo expressed disbelief at the drastic turn of events that led to Marten’s involvement with Gordon and the subsequent tragedy that unfolded.

Following the court proceedings that led to Marten and Gordon’s sentencing, emotional testimonies from family members highlighted Marten’s complex character, emphasizing her struggles with mental health issues exacerbated by traumatic events. Detectives involved in the case condemned the selfish actions of Gordon and Marten, attributing the tragic loss of their infant daughter to their irresponsible choices and criminal behavior.