Watch: Police ask Constance Marten ‘where is your child?’ during arrest
Constance Marten claimed her name was Arabella and told police “you can’t arrest someone for hiding a pregnancy” after she was was finally caught after almost eight weeks on the run, a court has heard.The aristocrat was also heard begging “please stop - he’s not been well” as her partner Mark Gordon was handcuffed and pinned to the ground after they were spotted by a member of the public.In bodyworn footage played to the jury at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, officers could be heard asking the couple where their newborn baby was after they were arrested in Brighton at 9.35pm on 27 February.Met Police
Transcript
00:00 Right, at this moment in time, until I can confirm who you are, you're both under arrest
00:08 on suspicion of child neglect.
00:09 You don't have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you don't mention when
00:11 questioned something which is not on the court or anything that you're giving in.
00:14 Do you ever understand?
00:15 What's your name?
00:16 Arabella.
00:17 Where's your child, madam?
00:18 Where is the child, please?
00:19 Daddy bear.
00:20 Look at me.
00:21 Constance.
00:22 Constance, Arabella, whoever you are.
00:23 Right, where's your child?
00:24 Have we searched your address?
00:31 I've just asked, I'm going to undo it now.
00:37 Why are we under arresting?
00:38 You're under arrest for child neglect.
00:41 You are under arrest for consumption of the birth of a child.
00:44 That's not arrest.
00:45 It's alright.
00:46 And section 27, offences against the person, act, expose a child under the age of two years
00:52 whereas by life or health to be endangered.
00:54 Do you understand what you've been arrested for?
00:57 I understand, but not the first two.
01:00 I can't arrest someone for having a pregnancy.
01:03 Right, well that's...
01:04 That's not an arrest on suspicion.
01:05 Okay, they are the offences that I've arrested you on suspicion of.
01:08 The necessity of your arrest is to protect from adolescence and prevent disappearance.
01:11 Do you understand that you've been arrested?