MOLLY Martens and her father Thomas Martens have been arrested and charged in court over the murder of Limerick man Jason Corbett.
Appearing before Judge Theodore Royster at Davidson Superior Court this Tuesday, Molly Martens (32) and her father, retired FBI agent Thomas Michael Martens (65) were charged with second degree murder and voluntary manslaughter of Jason Corbett at his home on August 2 last.
The pair were later released, each on a $200,000 bond, ordered to surrender their passports and to not have any contact with Jason Corbett’s family.
Jason’s sister, Tracey Lynch and her husband David, the legal guardians to Jason’s two children Jack and Sarah, from his first marriage to Mags Corbett, were in court having travelled from Ireland to witness proceedings.
About a dozen supporters for the Martens accused, it is reported, were also present in court.
It is alleged that Jason Corbett was bludgeoned to death in his home on August 2 after Thomas Martens alerted 911 that he had hit his son-in-law with a baseball bat.
Jason was found with severe head injuries and died as a result.
In the wake of the killing, Molly Martens sought custody but this was opposed by Tracey Lynch who argued that Jason’s will instructed the children return to Ireland and stay in her custody in the event of his death.
The US courts eventually upheld that the children were to return to Ireland and Molly Martens lost an appeal to that decision last December.
A date will now be set for the father and daughter to be arraigned before the court and a trial is expected to be held before the end of the year.
Watch footage of the arrest from the US via Winston Salem Journal online
