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Police confirm body found in search for missing baby of Constance Marten and partner

Police have confirmed the body of a baby was found as a post mortem is expected to soon take place.

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Police have confirmed a body has been found in the search for the missing baby of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon after the couple were arrested on Monday, after 53 days evading authorities.

The pair were further arrested under suspicion of gross negligence and manslaughter as officers searching for their missing child said they ‘had to consider the baby has come to harm’. Conducting the urgent search, officers used drones, sniffer dogs, thermal imaging cameras, helicopters and had the help of many volunteers as they worked day and night, fearing the worst.

Police confirmed on Wednesday evening that they had found the remains of a baby in their huge search operation of 90 sqm in Brighton. The body was located in a wooded area close to where the couple were arrested in Stanmer Villas, after a member of the public reported seeing the pair at around 9.30pm. 

Marten and Gordon were without their baby at the time of their arrest prompting officers to conduct an urgent search to find the infant. Police have not yet confirmed if the body is that of their baby’s and said a post-mortem will be carried out in due course.

The couple had spent more than seven weeks on the run after their car was found on fire and abandoned on the M61 near Bolton on January 5th. Fire crews found evidence that suggested Ms Marten had given birth just a couple days prior, sparking a huge search as police believed the baby had not received any medical attention.

Chief Superintendent James Collis, of Sussex Police, said the announcement would be ‘heartbreaking’ for the local community to receive. He said: “I understand that the conclusion of this search will be heartbreaking for the local community and the wider public who have been impacted by and so supportive of this search and the investigation from the outset.”

Marten, 35, comes from an aristocratic family with royal connections. Gordon, a registered sex offender, was deported to Britain in 2010 from the US after he served 20 years in prison for a rape he committed when he was aged 14. The couple began a romantic relationship in 2016 and Marten has been estranged from her family 

Both Marten and Gordon remain in custody while investigations continue and Police have asked the public not to speculate. There are concerns the newborn may have been dead for a couple of weeks as parents Constance Marten and Mark Gordon were seen without the infant on several occasions.

Constance Marten / Facebook

They were seen on CCTV on February 11 going into a fish and chip shop in Brighton, shopping at a convenience store and later visiting food banks, according to local residents. The last person to see the baby alive was on January 7th when the couple took a taxi in Whitechapel, east London. Days before they were arrested they made a visit to Brighton Food Bank.

As reported in The Mail Online, one worker said they did not ask for anything for an infant, even though they had ample supplies of nappies and baby food, adding: “They were given tinned food, bread, pasta, milk and rice. They were not registered with us, which is how we usually operate. The baby was not with them. We have supplies here but they didn’t ask for anything for a baby. But they came asking for help for themselves.

“She did the talking and the man stayed back with his hood up. She asked for help. She was wearing a lot of layers and looked like she’d been outside for a while. He was checking the area. He stood back and would not make eye contact. She did the talking. We didn’t take any details, we just gave them food because we thought they needed help.”

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Manchester’s historic Portico Library awarded huge grant to secure its future

The funding has helped secure the future of the 218-year-old building

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David Dixon / Geograph

The Grade II-listed Portico Library will receive almost half a million pounds to transform the historic building.

The funding has helped secure the future of the 218-year-old building – a much-loved gem standing proudly on Mosley Street.

Thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the £453,000 will see the treasured library undergo a huge revamp and preserve its book collection. 

Robert Wade / Flickr

During its development, local communities in Manchester will be invited to help work on the project.

With particular focus on environmentally sustainable architectural plans, it aims to unite all three original floors of The Portico Library for the first time in 100 years.

The ground floor will be transformed into a ‘Northern bookshop’ which will hold educational activities, with areas for dining, exhibitions areas and meeting spaces.

David Dixon / Geograph

While the upper floors will showcase the library’s incredible book collection and archives, which includes the first edition of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.

John Carpenter, Chair of the Portico Library, said: “The news that The National Lottery Heritage Fund is supporting The Portico Library’s bold scheme to open up and share its extraordinary heritage and collection, to Manchester residents and visitors, is a major cultural signal to Manchester, the North and the UK.”

David Dixon / Geograph

He added: “This visionary project, years in the making, fulfils our mission of working with the many people in Manchester to explore, share and celebrate their diverse stories and the city’s literary and global heritage.

“Embracing creativity, collaboration and inclusivity, the project will unlock the Library’s past to plan for the future. We would like to thank the National Lottery players who have made it possible to realise our vision.”

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Handwritten note with ‘plan to kill’ Brianna Ghey found in accused girl’s room

The note was found during a police search

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Cheshire Police

A handwritten note with alleged details of a ‘plan to kill’ transgender teenager Brianna Ghey was found by police in the bedroom of Girl X.

The crumpled paper note (pictured) was discovered by officers during a search conducted at the accused’s home in March, more than a month after the tragic death of the 16-year-old.

Brianna was found after being stabbed 28 times in Culcheth Linear Park, Warrington, earlier this year.

The teenager was discovered by dog walkers just after 3pm on Saturday, February 11th.

Cheshire Police

Girl X from Warrington and Boy Y from Leigh both deny murder. During the trial, jurors at Manchester Crown Court heard how Girl X sent a picture of the handwritten note to Boy Y on February 3rd.

The note began with the header: “Saturday 11th February 2023. Victim: Brianna Ghey.”

It continued: “Meet Boy Y at wooden posts 1pm. Walk down to library…bus stop. Wait until Brianna gets off bus then the 3 of us walk to Linear Park.

“Go to the pipe/tunnel area. I say code word to Boy Y. He stabs her in the back as I stab her in the stomach. Boy Y drags the body into the area. We both cover up the area with logs etc.”

Cheshire Police

In her opening speech, prosecutor Deanna Heer KC told the jury: “It is clearly, the prosecution say, a plan to kill Brianna Ghey.” During the same search on March 17th, officers found a note found in a drawer headlined ‘plan’.

Details in the note continued: “Give them alcohol with sleeping pills.

“Slit throat. I kill her. Dismember body. Place pieces in bin bags, bury bags 7ft underground, bones including.

“Get her to go to Linear park, go to the hidden spot near the bridge I usually go to. Someone jumps out and restrains her (plan B). I kill her.”

During the search, police also found a computer tablet and a black notebook.

Cheshire Police

Jurors heard that written in the notebook was the word ‘anarchy’ on one page, and on another there was a list of ‘what is right and wrong’. Another page had a ‘spider diagram’ with ‘good and ‘evil’ in the middle.

The ‘legs’ of the diagram lead to the words ‘forgiveness, justice, morality, good, suffering, evil, sin and free will’, the court heard.

On another page there were the words ‘Valentine’s gifts’ and on another the words ‘revision HW’. Prosecutor Cheryl Mottram said: “Homework, perhaps.”

Written on another page were the words ‘types of serial killers’, with a list under the heading.

Brianna Ghey / Go Fund Me

Words underneath included ‘organised and disorganised’, ‘mass murder’, ‘psychotic’, ‘organised crime’ and ‘copy cat’. On another page were the words ‘films’, and ‘faves’.

Another page was headed with ‘Jeffrey Dahmer’ and then a ‘list of characteristics’. There were also notes about ‘John Wayne Gacy’, the ‘killer clown’.

The notebook also had written inside it a note which read ‘potential threats’ and ‘people that need to go’.

Another page had Boy Y’s name on it followed by a ‘list of qualities or attributes’. Underneath was written the words ‘trustworthy, funny, sociopath, good sense of humour, very very smart, genius level and not sociable’. 

Mikey / Flickr

Officers also recovered a black purse inside a ‘cubby hole’ with a handwritten note inside.

The note read: “Friday 11th November, attitudes to forgiveness.” Jurors were told the note contained two names, including Gee Walker.

“Forgives her son Anthony’s killer,” it read. And continued: “Julie Nicholson, who could not forgive the terrorists who killed her daughter Jenny.”

Three handwritten notes were also found on the floor of the room. One read ‘serial killer facts’, with a ‘list of facts relating to serial killers’ including ‘killing themselves in police custody can be a final act of control’, ‘hedonism’ and ‘power and control orientated’.

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Other notes made were ‘cruelty to animals’, ‘bed wetting past age of five’, ‘USA has the most serial killers’, ‘lack of empathy for others’ and ‘can be superficially charming’.

One note read ‘Dr Harold Frederick Shipman, aka Dr Death’, followed by the words ‘classification, serial killer’.

And jurors were told there was also a note in relation to ‘Richard Ramirez, or the ‘Night Stalker’.

The trial, which began on November 27th at Manchester Crown Court, continues.

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Hugh Grant and wife Anna donate £20,000 ‘Britain’s kindest plumber’

A lovely Christmas gift to help those in need

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Tine Hemeryk / Flickr & @Depheruk / Twitter

Hugh Grant and his wife Anna have donated £20,000 to Burnley plumber James Anderson.

Dubbed ‘Britain’s kindest plumber’, James Anderson set up Depher, which stands for Disabled and Elderly, Plumbing and Heating Emergency Response, back in 2017.

Originally a plumber who offered services to those in need for free of charge, Mr Anderson now runs the community interest company.

Tine Hemeryk / Flickr

Depher provides plumbing work free of charge for those who are struggling in the cost of living crisis.

Since it began in 2017, Depher has helped more than half a million people across the country and relies on donations from the public.

Now, Hollywood actor Hugh Grant and his wife Anna, who both arrived in Manchester on Thursday December 7th to attend the Chanel Métiers d’Art fashion show, have made a donation of £20,000 to help those in need this winter.

@Depheruk / Twitter

The couple have also donated tens of thousands of pounds to the Depher cause in the past.

Anderson called the kind donation a ‘Christmas gift’ and said it brings the total they have donated to £75,000.

Sharing the news on the Depher Twitter page, Mr Anderson wrote: “After speaking privately to @HackedOffHugh and Anna Grant I have permission to share their wonderful #Christmas gift to @Depheruk. 

“This wonderful and humbling donation of £20,000.00 will give hope to thousands of people, families and children, especially with the #CostOfLivingCrisis.

“They both have my lifetime of respect and love.”

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