‘Truth will triumph’ say Jason Corbett’s family and friends

‘Following in their dad’s footsteps’

FRIENDS and supporters of murder victim Jason Corbett have said it has been ‘an absolutely horrendous’ week after his killers were granted a retrial.

Loved ones took to social media to condemn the appeal decision in North Carolina as they insisted ‘truth and love will triumph over lies and murder’.

It comes after the Irish Mail on Sunday revealed that Mr Corbett’s children may have to travel from Ireland to the US for the retrial.

Mr Corbett – who had moved from Limerick to Wallburg, North Carolina – was battered to death in 2015 by his wife Molly Martens Corbett and her father Tom Martens, a retired FBI agent.

Both were convicted in 2017 – despite claiming they acted in self-defence – and were sentenced to 20-25 years in prison.

However, a US appeal court last week ordered a retrial as they claimed the defendants had not been able to present ‘a meaningful defence’. A

Trial: The late Jason Corbett Facebook group called ‘Jason’s Journey’ – run by close associates of the family – condemned the decision yesterday.

‘It’s been an absolutely horrendous week for Jason’s family,’ the statement read.

‘However, let’s not forget what has been achieved and take a moment to see what is true and real. Love…

‘Jason’s true self shines brightly reflected in his wonderful children and the happy memories of the time they spent with their dad,’ the post continued.

It went on to hail his ‘beautiful, kind-hearted daughter’ Sarah, who was recently awarded the title Limerick Person of the Month.

The 13-year-old is set to have her first book published, titled Noodle Loses Dad, with proceeds of the sales going towards the Children’s Grief Centre.

Both she and her brother Jack – who Jason shared with his late first wife Mags – now live with their aunt Tracey, Jason’s sister, in Limerick.

Tracey yesterday declined to comment when contacted by the Irish Daily Mail.

‘The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,’ the Facebook post said. ‘Jack & Sarah are amazing and following in their dad’s altruistic footsteps.’

The post went on to rubbish Ms Martens’s claims that Jason was abusive towards her and that she had been acting in self defence.

‘We know what is true, we know what is real. Jason’s autopsy report is real,’ friends said.

‘The facts are true. We have to believe that truth & love with triumph over lies & murder…’

Yesterday, the MoS revealed that Sarah and Jack, 15, may have to travel back to the US to testify against their former stepmother.

Key elements being highlighted by lawyers include the exclusion of statements from Mr Corbett’s children, Jack and Sarah, which described domestic violence.

Davidson County District Attorney Garry Frank said the form of the children’s testimony in a retrial is ‘all up in the air, really’.

‘I have an idea of what I would like to see happen, but I really don’t want to speculate about it right now,’ he said.

‘Options are to try to set up some kind of video, get them over here or just let the statements sit.’

The possibility of prosecutors coming here to speak to the children is ‘fairly remote’ he said, but he added that he hoped the case wouldn’t even progress to that point.

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