The jury in the trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon over the death of their baby has been sent home.

Today was the first day back in court following an electrical fire at the Old Bailey in London last Wednesday. The court was closed on Thursday and Friday last week for safety checks.

Recorder of London Mark Lucraft KC sent the jury home and said they needed to come back on Wednesday while solicitors in the case deal with administrative matters in court tomorrow.

It is understood that both prosecution and defence counsel still expect the trial to finish on March 8, which was the original time set.

The fire last week curtailed proceedings in all of the Old Bailey’s 19 courtrooms.


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Some 1,500 people had to evacuate the building and two people were rescued from lifts inside it.

Defendants were seen being escorted by police out of a side exit and into waiting vans to be returned to prison.

Marten and Gordon are facing five charges each which they deny.

The couple are charged with gross negligence manslaughter, perverting the course of justice, child cruelty, causing the death of a child, and concealing the birth of a child.