THE US law officer who led the prosecution of Molly Martens and her father Tom for killing Jason Corbett has received the public support of the Limerick man’s family in his campaign to be re-elected.
David Grice is seeking re-election as Sheriff of Davidson County in North Carolina and his campaign has drawn support from the Corbett family in Limerick.
His role in the successful convictions of the Martens will also be highlighted in a book written by Jason Corbett’s sister, Tracey Corbett-Lynch. The book, which is co-authored by journalist Ralph Riegel, will be published at the end of May.
Last August the Martens were sentenced to between 20 and 25 years in prison after they were found guilty of the second-degree murder of the 39 year-old father of two at his home in North Carolina on August 2, 2015.
The trial heard how company manager Jason was bludgeoned to death with a paving stone, and that Tom Martens struck him up to 12 times with and an aluminium baseball bat he brought to the couple’s home as a gift for Jack.
The Martens had their appeals against the murder convictions rejected by Davidson County Superior Court just before Christmas on the grounds of juror misconduct. They are now seeking to have their convictions overturned over flaws in how their trial was conducted.
In the meantime, they are defending a wrongful death civil action brought against them by the Corbett estate while Molly Martens is also facing an additional term of imprisonment over a breach of prison rules.
The Corbett children, Jack and Sarah, whose mother Mags died in 2006 from an asthma attack, now live with Tracey Corbett-Lynch and her husband David in Limerick.
Ms Corbett Lynch wrote of the kindness and tenacity shown by Sheriff Grice in bringing justice to her brother’s killers as she also paid tributes to the people of North Carolina who offered support to them during their ordeal.
She documents the journey the extended Corbett family went on with the US justice system and Sheriff Grice whom she praised for showing such “compassion” to her entire family.
Meanwhile, an online campaign to raise $300,000 to fund legal costs incurred by the Martens has only managed to attract $22,522 in pledges to date.
The GoGetFunding appeal has received no pledges in the last two months with the most recent donations including a Christmas Day pledge of $100 from Molly’s brother Connor.
The online campaign was set up by Mona Earnest – the wife of Mike Earnest, an uncle of Molly Martens – who pleaded for help from several well-known personalities, including former US president Barack Obama.
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