Tragedy as two Year 9 boys from same school die on same day in separate incidents
The Year Nine lads both died last Monday, their headteacher said.
One of them, aged 14, was a pedestrian killed in a crash with a car towing a trailer.
The driver was arrested on suspicion of driving while unfit through drugs.
No details were given about the circumstances of the second boy's death.
Horndean Technology College, Hants, where they were pupils, said both incidents happened off the school site.
Headteacher Julie Summerfield told parents: 'Both students were valued members of HTC, and we will all miss them greatly.
'Our thoughts are with their families and friends, and they are receiving appropriate support.
'We have shared the news with our students.
'We understand that families will want to support their children through this extremely difficult time and below we have provided some links to useful resources to help in conversations.'
Hampshire Constabulary arrested a 24-year-old male from Waterlooville in relation to the crash and released him pending inquires.
Schoolboy, 12, killed in horror fire that ripped through block of flats had 'great heart' as family pays tribute
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Hooked on violent pornography, Gordon was just 14 when he raped a woman at knifepoint in 1989 after breaking into her home armed with knives and hedge clippers, telling her: 'Don't scream or I'll kill your children.' Over the next four and half hours, the teenage rapist tormented his victim, telling her she was going to die as he ran the blade down her body, holding it to her throat and heart saying: 'All I have to do is push and you are dead.' The mother recalled: 'I had no hope. I was told to say goodbye to my children because this was the day I was going to die. 'When I thought he might be going to leave, he said 'No, your nightmare isn't over yet'.' Franklin Nooe (corr), treatment director of a sex assault clinic who counselled Gordon's first victim, described Gordon as a sociopath in the same category as Ted Bundy: 'That's the 5 per cent of the rapists, that's your Ted Bundys, your Wilders that obviously enjoy it. It is something that actually fuels them. 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As she lay screaming in agony with a shattered spleen and internal bleeding, putting her life and her unborn child at risk, Gordon didn't call an ambulance and attempted to delay paramedics alerted by concerned neighbours. Marten would spend the next eight days in hospital recovering from surgery, but Gordon demanded she should be discharged despite doctors warning this would put her life at risk. The domestic abuse was the catalyst for a family court judge to rule their four older children should be taken into care for their own protection from a 'violent sex offender' whose actions had 'put her life and the life of their unborn child at serious risk'. Two years before the death of Victoria, District Judge Madeleine Reardon warned: 'It is much more likely than not that in the foreseeable future the children will be exposed to serious physical violence between their parents. 'It is quite possible that they will be injured themselves.' When police discovered a placenta in Marten and Gordon's car, revealing the existence of their fifth child, authorities were so concerned for baby Victoria's welfare that an emergency care order was made on January 20 so she could immediately be taken from her parents. Tragically, police did not find her in time to save the infant, who died of hypothermia, exposure or co-sleeping, experts believe. Afterwards Gordon tried to avoid prosecution for his daughter's death, claiming he faced a higher risk of jury prejudice than Couzens. Neena Crinnion, defending, argued Gordon could not have a fair trial as he had been portrayed as a 'black rapist' on the run with a 'white aristocrat', adding: 'Ms Marten was described as beautiful, refined, educated, an aristocrat who had links to the Royal Family, whereas Mr Gordon is repeatedly referred to as 'the rapist'.' In a scandal which raises questions about the legal aid system, Marten was granted taxpayer funding for her defence despite her huge wealth. She attempted to claim a raft of benefits, including child benefits for her elder children after they had already been taken into care, and demanded to be given a council house after turning down a home in London paid for by her trust fund. During their prosecution, the couple conspired to delay, lie and obfuscate repeatedly in a bid to sabotage the case, shocking one of Britain's most senior judges, who declared that they behaved worse than teenage murderers. The pair spun a web of conspiracy, claiming social workers were working with Marten's aristocratic family to abduct their children and private investigators were bombing cars and spying on their every move, while police hunted them like 'terrorists'. But Prosecutor Tom Little KC dismissed Marten's 'grandstanding on a Premier League level', saying 'lies fell from her mouth like confetti in the wind'. The unprecedented case is now the subject of a national child safeguarding review to consider whether new laws should be brought in to protect unborn children. Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, who led the case, believes that lives could be saved if officers had the power to bring in protection and family contact orders before a baby is born to parents considered at high risk of harming their children. He said: 'At the moment police are powerless to protect that child until a baby draws their first breath. 'If there was a change in the law, we could put contact orders in place to monitor the pregnancy and protection orders could be in place before that child is born so they could immediately be taken into care. 'If you look at cases like Baby P, this could save lives.' Following the jury's verdict after 14 hours of deliberation, the officer said: 'Today, the justice we have long fought for has been finally been served for baby Victoria. 'The selfish actions of Mark Gordon and Constance Marten resulted in the death of a newborn baby who should have had the rest of her life ahead of her. She should have recently celebrated her second birthday, but this was snatched away by the very people who should've protected and cared for her. 'This was an incredibly challenging investigation for the hundreds of officers who were involved in the search. Our main focus throughout the search was finding Victoria alive and we all remain devastated by her death. 'As anyone who's followed this trial will know, it was an incredibly complex investigation. Mark Gordon and Constance Marten deliberately avoided the authorities and continued to shield Victoria from us even after their arrest. This meant even the most experienced child pathologists in the country were unable to establish the cause of Victoria's death. 'We know today's verdict won't bring Victoria back, but I am pleased our painstaking investigation has resulted in those who caused her death being brought to justice. 'Victoria's death was completely avoidable. The couple had plenty of opportunities to do the right thing and come forward to ask for help. 'They knew throughout that officers were looking for them and baby Victoria. They also ignored medical professionals who directly reached out to them to say their actions were putting baby Victoria at risk. 'In court, Marten said they moved around a lot to avoid 'one single authority' having jurisdiction over their daughter. Marten stated that her children had been 'stolen by the state,' referring to the social care system after her previous four children were removed from her by the family court. 'I would like to personally thank the media for the positive support you showed throughout the search, the many members of the public who reported sightings and Sussex Police for the support provided in the arrests and subsequent search for Victoria. This support was incredibly important to the investigation throughout. 'Speaking personally as a father, I find it hard to comprehend how, instead of providing the warmth and care their child needed, Mark Gordon and Constance Marten chose to live outside during freezing conditions to avoid the authorities, causing the death of baby Victoria. 'Throughout the trial, both defendants made repeated attempts to disrupt and frustrate the judicial process, employing tactics designed to undermine proceedings and shift focus away from the serious charges they faced. Their behaviour ranged from non-cooperation and persistent interruptions aimed at delaying progress. 'Despite these challenges, the professionalism and resilience of the legal advocates, the judge, and court staff ensured that the integrity of the trial was maintained throughout. Through careful case management, clear judicial direction, and a steadfast commitment to due process, the court was able to navigate these obstructions effectively. As a result, the jury remained focused on the evidence and, unimpeded by the defendants' attempts to derail the proceedings, reached today's just and rightful guilty verdict.' The couple will be sentenced on September 15.
