The family of Limerick man Jason Corbett who was killed by his American wife and father-in-law, Molly and Tom Martens, who are being released early from two US jails, say they are “deeply disappointed” at the move.
The pair admitted killing the father-of-two in a plea deal admitting manslaughter last year and have been released on Thursday, three weeks ahead of the set date of June 27 due to time they previously spent in separate jails.
Mr Corbett was killed in his home in Panther Creek, North Carolina in the US eight years ago by his second wife, American Molly (40) and her father a former FBI agent Tom Martens (73) by the pair wielding a paving stone and a baseball bat as he slept in bed on August 2nd 2015.
His two children, Jack and Sarah were in the house at the time of the father’s killing. They now live in Limerick with their aunt and uncle, Tracey Corbett Lynch, and her husband, David.
In a statement issued by the Corbett family via social media platforms, the family said that after a nine-year battle for justice, “we are deeply disappointed” by the impending release of Tom and Molly Martens, “the individuals responsible for the senseless and brutal murder of Jason, leaving his two children orphaned.”
They describe how Mr Corbett “drugged” and that “they (Martens) beat him with a brick and a baseball bat while he was unable to defend himself. They left the room without a mark on either of them.”
The Corbett family set out that they believe the “heinous actions” of Tom and Molly Martens not only took Mr Corbett's life in a “malevolent, cruel and vicious manner” but they also set about to “tarnish his reputation and use his children in a self serving attempt to evade accountability.”
The statement adds: “ Molly Martens relentlessly put Jack and Sarah into the centre of her bid to evade justice with a web of lies while refusing to take the stand to give evidence herself.
“Her cruelty, disregard and treatment of two children under 10 years of age whose birth mother had died, father she had just battered to death and whom she professed to love was inhumane. Despite the gravity of their crime and the immense loss they inflicted, they will be freed today after serving just four years and three months.”
They point out that the Martens lack of remorse for the “irreparable harm” caused to Mr Corbett's children, whom they “callously orphaned, is a stark reminder to all, of their callous disregard for human life and decency.”
The family noted that throughout the protracted legal proceedings, “they (Marten’s) prioritised their own interests over the profound suffering they inflicted upon innocent children.
“Justice is twofold for criminals like Tom and Molly Martens. While they may have completed the court-mandated sentence, they now carry the enduring burden of their actions - forever knowing they extinguished a noble life.”
The Corbett's note that they as a family “know the truth, they know the truth. Soon the world will know the entire truth. Their legacy is one of undeniable guilt, exposed to an intelligent public - who when they look at the facts and evidence acknowledge their malevolent deeds on August 2nd 2015, without the shield of legal technicalities.”
The business executive's family vow to tirelessly uphold his honourable legacy and seek justice to preserve his memory.
They conclude: “Amidst this somber occasion, we draw solace from witnessing Jack and Sarah, the remarkable children Jason left behind, blossom into exceptional individuals he would undoubtedly be proud of. We remain resolute in our pursuit of truth, justice, and the protection of Jason's cherished memory.”
The family expressed their “heartfelt gratitude” to the unwavering support from the communities of Davidson County in North Carolina and Limerick, Ireland, who stood by their side throughout their “harrowing ordeal that no family should endure”.
The pair were jailed for a minimum of seven months and a maximum of 23 months at Davidson County Court last November for the manslaughter of Mr Corbett.
The pair had already served 44 months in prison after being convicted of second-degree murder in 2017 of 20 and 25-year sentences after their convictions were overturned following court appeals.
Prison authorities made a clerical error on the Martens’ prison release date late last year which would have allowed each of them to walk free on December 5th and 6th - just four weeks after their sentencing.
The mistake was made by officials from the North Carolina Department of Corrections when it was also revealed that the father and daughter were both still in Davidson County jail instead of State prison. They were subsequently moved.
Supporters of the Corbett and Lynch families have continuously called for an apology to be made. Ms Corbett Lynch said in December that the error on the release date of Tom and Molly Martens after spending just one month extra behind bars was “an insult to Jason's memory and our family.”
The late Mr Corbett and his late first wife Mag’s children, Jack (19) a University student and Sarah (17) who is now sitting her Leaving Cert read out statements to the court last November on how the death of their father and living in the US affected them.
The Corbett family have continuously fought to seek justice for Mr Corbett since his death almost nine years ago.
Sarah previously said online that the early release of her father’s killers that: “It is important for individuals to have a chance to heal and recover from their trauma instead of experiencing more of it. No Justice”.
