Family lef t outraged at new claim in Corbett death case
THE father-in-law of slain Limerick man Jason Corbett has made a ‘shocking’ attempt to introduce evidence relating to the death of Mr Corbett’s first wife into the trial over his death.
Jason Corbett was found bludgeoned to death in the home he shared with second wife Molly Martens and his two children in Winston Salem, North Carolina, on August 2, 2015.
Ms Martens, 33, and her father Tom Martens, 66, were charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in January 2016. They will go on trial in the US on July 17.
In a ‘statement of intent’ filed in North Carolina this week, lawyers for Tom Martens state that they intend ‘to introduce at trial’ statements made to their client by Michael Fitzpatrick, the late father of Margaret Corbett, Jason Corbett’s deceased first wife.
‘The content of the statements were that Jason Corbett had caused the death of Mr Fitzpatrick’s daughter Margaret Corbett,’ lawyers say.
Family ‘shocked and upset’
It is understood that Tom Martens and Michael Fitzpatrick only met on one occasion.
Margaret Fitzpatrick, who was known as Mags, died in November 2006 following an asthma attack. Her father died last October. The Corbett family, preparing for a lengthy trial in July, are understood to be ‘shocked and upset’ by the latest development. The Corbetts and Fitzpatricks have remained close since Mags’s death.
In the wake of Jason Corbett’s violent death, his sister Marian and Mags’s sister Catherine gave several interviews attesting to the ‘loving, caring relationship’ Mags and Jason shared,
In an interview with the Mail, Ms Fitzpatrick, who was living with the Corbett family at the time of Mags’s death, said there was no way her brother-in-law was a violent person. She said: ‘He never raised his voice, never raised his hand. Never.’
Earlier this month, lawyers representing Ms Martens and her father filed a motion to have the trial moved from Davidson County over what they described as ‘unfair media coverage.’ In a separate motion, lawyers also allege that Brian Shipwash, the clerk of court in Davidson County, engaged in improper conduct in disputes over custody of Mr Corbett’s children and his estate.
Prosecuting attorney Greg Brown said in his written response that lawyers for the defendants had given interviews to both local and international media.
Mr Brown says the defence has failed to identify any specific prejudice Molly Martens and her father Tom would have if the trial is held in Davidson County.
A hearing on the change of venue and other pre-trial motions will be held this week in the Davidson County Superior Court.