Police believe the baby found in woodland near where Constance Marten and Mark Gordon were arrested “may have been dead for some time”.
Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford of the Metropolitan Police Service and Chief Superintendent James Collis of Sussex Police today provided a brief on-camera statement about the ongoing investigation into the death of the baby.
During a press conference at Golf Drive, Brighton, Det Supt Basford said a postmortem had not yet taken place.
He said that, so far, police have been unable to confirm the baby’s gender.
“At this stage we have not yet been able to confirm the baby’s gender and a postmortem investigation has not yet taken place,” Detective Superintendent Basford said.
“Despite this, based on our enquiries we’ve carried out so far, we believe, sadly, the baby may have been dead for some time before they were found.
“It is too early for us to provide a more specific date.
“Because we believe the death occurred during the course of a missing person’s investigation we have made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office of Police Conduct.
“This is a standard protocol for such circumstances.
“I can also confirm that Constance Marten and Mark Gordon remain in custody at this time and the warrant for further detention that was granted yesterday will take us through to late evening.
“Officers from the Met will remain in this area for the coming days.”
Search teams found the body of the baby last night following a huge operation which began after Marten and Gordon were arrested in Stanmer Villas, Brighton, at about 9.30pm on Monday, February 27, after a member of the public saw them in a shop in Hollingbury Place.
They were initially arrested on suspicion of child neglect. They were later further arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.
Det Supt Basford and Chief Supt Collis were seen laying flowers in the area before the press briefing.
Chief Supt Collis said the large scale police operation around the city would now be scaled back as the investigation enters a “new phase”.
He said police had been “overwhelmed by kind messages and support” from the public as they carried out the search for the infant.
“The latest developments mean that the investigation is moving into a new phase and while the Metropolitan Police will remain in the area, the larger police presence for the search will be scaled back,” he said.
He thanked “the huge number of people who have helped or offered to help in any way that they can”, adding: “It is truly appreciated.”
Forensics teams, dog handlers and police officers were seen throughout the day gathering more evidence.
Officers were spotted at a second set of allotments north of Brentwood Crescent, and teams could be seen searching through the night with torches for more evidence.
This morning, cordons were still in place around a number of allotments and nearby woodland.
A vigil, organised by Reverend Betsy Gray-Hammond, will be held at St Mary Magdalen Church in Coldean, Brighton, at 6pm today.
The city’s political leaders have expressed their “heartbreak” at the discovery of the baby.
Brighton and Hove City Council leader Phelim Mac Cafferty said: “Like many across the city, I’m profoundly shocked and heartbroken that a baby’s remains have been found,” he said.
“We had hoped against all hope this wouldn’t be the news.
“I know people locally and nationally have been following this investigation with great concern.
“However, at this stage it’s vital that we allow the police to continue their investigation - which is expected to continue for some time.”
Caroline Lucas, who represents the Hollingbury area in Parliament as MP for Brighton Pavilion, expressed her sorrow.
She said: "It's desperately sad news to hear that the body of a baby has been found here in Brighton.
"The police must now be allowed to carry out their investigation so we can get to the bottom of this tragic case."
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