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FOI Reveals Marten and Gordon’s Legal Aid Likely to Exceed £1 Million Despite Heiress’s Trust

More than £400,000 has been claimed to date, with courts unable to draw on Constance Marten’s discretionary trust for costs.

Overview

  • Legal Aid Agency figures released under freedom of information laws show the pair have already claimed over £400,000, with the total projected to top £1 million once final bills are submitted.
  • Mark Gordon’s legal aid totals £367,210 across his first trial, retrial and a civil custody case, while £34,000 has been recorded for Constance Marten’s family court proceedings and her criminal trial bills are still pending.
  • Prosecutor Tom Little KC told the court it has no power to require payments from Marten’s reported £2.4 million discretionary trust, a point echoed in sentencing remarks referencing her expectation of future access.
  • At the time of her arrest Marten had £18,145.88 in a bank account, which prosecutors said they would seek as a contribution toward prosecution costs.
  • Media also report from unnamed prison sources that Marten has written letters to Gordon despite a contact ban, while both are serving 14-year sentences for gross negligence manslaughter with appeal action indicated.