Children’s statements can’t be used: judge
STATEMENTS made by Jason Corbett’s orphaned children Sarah and Jack in the days after their father’s death were not admissible as evidence, Judge David Lee ruled at the Molly Martens trial.
Both children had given interviews to various agencies, including social workers, in August 2015. There were allegations that the children had been ‘coached’ prior to the interviews taking place.
In one interview, which took place at a facility called Dragonfly House, Jack was asked why he was there. He replied saying that his dad had died.
He added: ‘My aunt and uncle from my dad’s side came to try and take me away. That’s why I’m here. My mom wants to get custody.’
He was asked if his mother was afraid of his father and he said he knew this because his ‘mom told him’. Both children had been told their father had died by their mother. In Sarah’s case, her step-grandmother Sharon Martens had also told her.
Judge Lee concluded that the statements did not meet the ‘trustworthiness’ requirement. He noted that both children had since recanted their statements.
He ruled that the statements were ‘inadmissible for any purpose’ in the trial.