The Irish Times January 31st 2019
Molly Martens Corbett and Thomas Martens did not have fair trial, US appeals court told
Molly Martens Corbett and Thomas Martens did not receive a fair trial for the murder of Irishman Jason Corbett, a court of appeal in the US has been told. The attorneys for the father and daughter delivered oral arguments before a three-judge panel of the North Carolina court of appeals inside a packed courtroom on Thursday morning. The standing-room-only crowd of nearly 150 people heard David Freedman, representing Martens, tell the judges he did not believe his client received a fair trial during the case that was heard in Davidson County, North Carolina in the summer of 2017.
On Thursday, Mr Freedman alleged Judge David Lee, who heard the case in 2017, excluded key evidence that would have corroborated his client’s claims. He said Martens’ state of mind was not taken into consideration. One statement that was not introduced at trial, but was heard on Thursday, came from Michael Fitzpatrick, the father of Jason Corbett’s first wife, Margaret Fitzpatrick Corbett. Ms Fitzpatrick Corbett, mother to Jason Corbett’s two children, died in 2006 from cardiac arrest stemming from an asthma attack. Her father, who has since died, signed an affidavit denying that he ever made that statement to Martens. Mr Freedman also argued that the jurors confessed to misconduct on the courthouse steps immediately following the trial and in a nationally-televised interview with ABC’s 20/20.
Extra.ie February 1st 2019
Inside the house of horrors where Molly Martens killed Jason Corbett
Molly Martens could still get half the proceeds of the house in which Jason Corbett was brutally murdered. Molly and her father Thomas, who were both convicted of the second-degree murder of Limerick man Mr Corbett, lodged appeals to their convictions in an American court yesterday. It has seen no devaluation given its recent violent history and the negative impact that may have on sourcing a buyer. Sources confirmed to Extra.ie that any proceeds from the sale of the house will be divided between the Martens family in the US and the Corbett family in Limerick, in accordance with the estate of Jason Corbett. It has seen no devaluation given its recent violent history and the negative impact that may have on sourcing a buyer. Sources confirmed to Extra.ie that any proceeds from the sale of the house will be divided between the Martens family in the US and the Corbett family in Limerick, in accordance with the estate of Jason Corbett.
Jason Corbett’s brother-in-law David Lynch who is guardian to the Corbett children Jack and Sarah alongside his wife Tracey Lynch — filed a separate civil suit of wrongful death against both Martens and is seeking at least $50,000 in compensatory and punitive damages. The lawsuit, filed before the murder trial started, also alleges that Molly’s mother Sharon, who was in the house the night of the murder, ‘assisted, aided and abetted defendants Molly Page Corbett and Thomas Martens in the killing of Jason Corbett and in the concealment and destruction of evidence related to Jason Corbett’s death.’ Sharon Martens was not criminally charged in relation to the killing. Lawyers for the convicted pair responded to the lawsuit by filing court papers claiming Mr Corbett’s death ‘was the sole proximate result of his own unprovoked violent aggression and his deliberate attempt to kill Molly Corbett and kill or seriously injure Mr Martens’.
Independent.ie February 12th 2019
'You were our whole world' - family's birthday tribute to murdered Irish dad Jason Corbett
THE family of an Irish father of two brutally murdered by his American wife and father-in-law have paid a moving birthday tribute to him - and vowed they will continue to defend his good name.
Tributes were paid to Jason Corbett (39) on what would have been his 43rd birthday with his sister, Tracey, vowing that they will provide whatever support is required to the North Carolina authorities to ensure her brother's killers face justice. Tracey paid a special birthday tribute to her brother and admitted that the Limerick family remain heartbroken at his loss. "To the world you were just one person - but to us you were our whole world," she said. 'You were our whole world' - family's birthday tribute to murdered Irish dad Jason Corbett
Lexington Dispatch March 25th 2019
Corbett, Martens lawyers settle wrongful death lawsuit
Lawyers for Molly Corbett and her father, Thomas Martens, settled a wrongful death lawsuit Monday morning that will result in a $750,000 payout to the trust fund of Jason Corbett’s two children, 14-year-old Jack and 12-year-old Sarah. On July 19, 2017, David Lynch, the executor of Jason Corbett’s estate and Jason Corbett’s brother-in-law, filed the lawsuit against Thomas Martens, Molly Corbett and Martens’ wife, Sharon Martens, for the murder of Irishman Jason Corbett. On July 19, 2017, David Lynch, the executor of Jason Corbett’s estate and Jason Corbett’s brother-in-law, filed the lawsuit against Thomas Martens, Molly Corbett and Martens’ wife, Sharon Martens, for the murder of Irishman Jason Corbett.
According to the documents, there is no admission of negligence or wrongdoing on the part of Thomas Martens, Sharon Martens or Molly Corbett. As a part of the settlement, the Martens will pay $180,000 and State Farm is paying an additional $20,000. After subtraction of attorney fees and litigation costs, approximately $149,000 will be deposited into the children’s trust fund.
Another $601,000 will be deposited into the trust fund from Jason Corbett’s life insurance policy, which was at the request of Molly Corbett, according to her lawyer Walter Holton. In another document, Molly Corbett renounced any claim to the funds so that it can be used for the benefit of the children. Holton said Molly Corbett had no knowledge of the life insurance policy prior to Jason Corbett’s death.
Lynch will also resign as trustee of the children’s fund in favor of Thornton’s Ireland Office, an independent trustee.
WFMY News April 20th 2019
'In Jason's Name': CBS' 48 Hours Takes a Closer Look Into Triad Murder Case of Jason Corbett
In her first American television interview, the sister of an Irish businessman who was murdered in Winston-Salem speaks out to defend his honor, she talks to 48 HOURS' Maureen Maher.
The episode titled “In Jason’s Name” aired Saturday night, April 20, on WFMY News 2/CBS. Jason Corbett was beaten to death with a brick paver and a baseball bat in 2015 by his American au-pair-turned-wife Molly Corbett and her father, former FBI agent, Tom Martens.
Corbett and Martens maintained they killed Jason Corbett in self-defense after he tried to strangle Molly. They claimed he was abusive to Molly for years and he had been threatening to kill Molly the night he died. NC Prosecutors said Corbett’s death was murder. Now, Tracey Lynch is trying to set the record straight on her slain brother. “They claimed it was self-defense,” Lynch tells 48 HOURS’ Maureen Maher.
“The Martens didn’t just murder Jason,” Lynch says. “They tried to destroy his character.” “Jason was an amazing human being,” Lynch says. Jason Corbett was a 30-year-old father of two in Ireland, who suddenly found himself a widower when his first wife died of an asthma attack. He then decided he needed help with the children and hired Molly Martens, originally from Knoxville, Tennessee. Soon, their relationship turned romantic and they were married. Shortly after, they moved to the United States.
“I just couldn’t process it,” Lynch says of her brother’s death. “It was that, you know, he was my best friend. We were just two of the closest people in the world to each other outside my husband and children.” Lynch tells Maher that before his death her brother said he was unhappy and wanted to move home to Ireland. “He said she was acting strange,” Lynch says of Molly Corbett. “He would open up and say they were having difficulties, and then he would change the subject.”Molly Corbett and Tom Martens were arrested and charged with killing Jason Corbett. They were convicted of second-degree murder in 2017, but have maintained their innocence. Earlier this year they sought to get their convictions overturned on appeal. The court has yet to rule. 48 HOURS: “In Jason’s Name” takes viewers into the courtroom for the hearing.
Daily Mail UK April 20th 2019
'They didn't just murder him...they tried to destroy his character'
Tracey Lynch is coming to the defense of her late brother, Jason Corbett, who was brutally murdered in 2015 by his wife and father-in-law
In 2017, Molly Martens Corbett and her father, Thomas Martens, were convicted of second-degree murder in the Aug. 2, 2015 killing of Corbett, 39
Martens Corbett claimed her husband Jason was abusive and controlling, and choked her the night of his death before her father intervened
Prosecutors said a possible motive behind the slaughter may have been to adopt kids and collect a $600,000 life insurance policy
Martens Corbett and her father were sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in prison with a maximum of 25 years
In January, their lawyers argued before the North Carolina Court of Appeals for the conviction to be overturned
CBS’s 48 Hours 'In Jason's Name' airs Saturday at 10pm ET
Full interview : 48 Hours In Jason's name
Independent.ie April 21st 2019
THE sister of murdered Irish businessman Jason Corbett (39) has slated as "beneath contempt" efforts to drag his two children into the legal maelstrom in the US just to help his killers escape justice. Tracey Corbett Lynch said she was "disgusted" over attempts by those acting on behalf of Tom and Molly Martens to again smear the reputation and good name of the Limerick father-of-two who was drugged and beaten to death as he slept in August 2015. Mr Corbett was beaten to death with a heavy concrete brick and a metal baseball bat. US TV channel, CBS, broadcast a special episode of their investigative programme, '48 Hours', on the shocking killing of the Irish packaging industry executive by his wife and father in law in North Carolina four years ago. Tom and Molly Martens are currently serving 20-25 years in prison after being convicted by unanimous verdict of a North Carolina jury in August 2017 of Mr Corbett's second degree murder. Both are now challenging their convictions - and claim they received an unfair trial by not being allowed introduce disputed statements from Mr Corbett's two children, Jack and Sarah. Molly's uncle, Michael Earnest, and her brother, Connor, were both interviewed for the '48 Hours' programme.
The Irish Post September 15th 2019
Daughter of murdered Limerick man Jason Corbett pens series of books to help kids deal with loss
THE DAUGHTER of Jason Corbett, the Irishman murdered in his US home in shocking circumstances, has written a series of books designed to help young children cope with the loss of a loved one. Sarah Corbett Lynch endured two tragedies within the first eight years of her life.
Aged just 12 weeks old, she lost her mother Mags to a lethal asthma attack. Then, when she was eight, her father was found horrifically murdered in their North Carolina home. Corbett had moved his surviving family over to the US after meeting and marrying an American woman by the name of Molly Martens.
In a shocking twist, Molly and her father Tom were arrested at the scene. Police later determined Jason died after receiving at least 12 blows to the head from a baseball and a paving stone. Both Molly and Tom claimed they acted in self-defence but were ultimately found guilty of second-degree murder and handed 20 to 25-year prison sentences. Now 13, Sarah is hoping her experience of losing the “most important person” in her life can provide some support to young children going through the same thing.
The Irish Daily September 19th 2019
I hope my books will help other people through their grief
THE daughter of murdered Limerick man Jason Corbett has written a series of self-help books to guide children and parents through the grieving process. Sarah Corbett Lynch, 13, now hopes ‘The Boogawooga Series’ will be picked up by a professional publisher. The budding young author and her older brother Jack were left orphaned after their father was murdered in their adopted home in North Carolina, in August 2015. Following Jason’s death, Sarah and Jack returned to their native Limerick to live with their aunt Tracey Corbett Lynch and her husband Dave.
Sarah, who was eight years old when her father was killed, explained in a blog on her website: ‘So some kids have a really gentle fun life. For some of us, we are not so lucky. Mine was kind of not so cool. My birth Mom died when I was 12 weeks old. When I was four I went to live in America with my Dad to start a new life for us. My Dad was the most important person in my life all my life. He died suddenly when I was just 8 years old and my brother was 10.” ‘We moved back to Ireland, which is my favourite place in the world, to live with my Auntie, uncle and two cousins. They are like my Mam, Dad and Brothers. I moved country, lost my Dad and had a new school, neighbourhood and loads of other stuff. So I started reading about other people who have had hard times and went to work with Tracey who works with other people who have tough times too.”
‘It basically helped me feel less alone and so I began to write about my experience through my stories. My characters are Noodle, Paws and their Dad. They are the Wolf family. Then there is Poochie, Pug, Caz and Nudge they are the monkey family. I hope it helps other people to process their story,’ she added.
Sarah is following her dream of writing, acting, and dancing, and she recently performed for judges in the Voice Kids in the UK.