THE TRAGIC story of murdered Limerick man Jason Corbett, which formed the basis of a book written by his sister, now looks likely to be adapted as a US television series.
Negotiations are underway with producers to purchase the rights to ‘My Brother Jason’, the book written by Tracey Corbett Lynch, with a television mini-series and a documentary film under active consideration.
Ms Corbett Lynch, who is the legal guardian of Jason’s two children, wrote the book with journalist Ralph Riegel.
All proceeds will go to Jason’s children who were orphaned when their former nanny and father’s second wife Molly Martens was convicted of his second-degree murder.
Jason Corbett suffered brutal head blows with a baseball bat and a paving slab as he lay in bed in his North Carolina home in August 2015.
Molly (34), and her father, retired FBI agent Tom (68), were later convicted and sentenced to between 20 and 25 for the fatal attack.
In her book, Tracey wanted to preserve the memory of her murdered brother as she felt the images and stories portrayed by Molly and her father of Jason were untrue and appalling.
Molly Martens had sought custody of Jack and Sarah, Jason’s two children with his first wife Mags Fitzpatrick who died of an asthma attack in 2006.
Jason remarried a number of years later after he employed Molly Martens as a nanny. However, he refused to sign adoption papers amid concerns over her mental health and erratic behaviour.
In the aftermath of the trial, Tracey said that the true character of her brother never emerged and that became the focus of her book.
Both Molly and Thomas Martens have appealed their murder convictions and cited self-defence in their written arguments to the court.
They have been allowed to make oral presentations to the three-judge appeal court on January 31.
Their claims of self-defence in the original trial were dismissed on the basis that neither of them were injured when police arrived on the scene.
In September, lawyers for the pair lodged written submissions on why their appeal should be upheld. A ruling on the appeal is expected within three months of the January 31 hearing.
