Jason Corbett's family in North Carolina ahead of retrial of Molly Martens and Thomas Martens

Thomas Martens and Molly Martens

The daughter of Jason Corbett who was beaten to death in his home in the US has said “you don’t need to be a victim of domestic violence to support someone who is”.

Sarah Corbett Lynch was speaking ahead of a balloon release on Sunday to mark Domestic Violence Awareness month in North Carolina as she awaits the retrial of Molly Martens and Thomas Martens in relation to her father's death. 

The teenager and her family will be present on Monday for a pre-trial hearing in Davidson Superior Court. 

Ms Martens and Mr Martens are facing a retrial on murder and manslaughter charges.

A Davidson County jury convicted them both of second-degree murder in a high-profile trial in August 2017, and they were sentenced to 20 to 25 years in prison.

However, the North Carolina Court of Appeals overturned the convictions, finding that the trial judge made prejudicial decisions that prevented the two from mounting a defence. That decision was upheld by the state Supreme Court.

The second trial for Ms Martens and Mr Martens is scheduled to begin on Monday, 6 November with jury selection in Forsyth Superior Court. In mid-February, Hall granted requests from the defence attorneys to move their trial from Davidson County to Winston-Salem.

Jason Corbett

At that time, Hall said Forsyth County was "the most proper venue" for the second murder trial of Ms Martens and Mr Martens.

The attorneys for Ms Martens and Mr Martens argued in court that extensive social media comments about the case have possibly affected potential jurors in Davidson County, preventing a fair trial.

The case has attracted intense and widespread media coverage, including international news coverage. 

Judge Hall has imposed a gag order on everyone involved in the case.

Yesterday, Ms Corbett Lynch invited friends and family to a biodegradable balloon release as part of Domestic Violence Awareness month at the Jason Corbett Memorial plaque at MPS WestRock Carpark.

In a statement, the teenager said the purpose of the event was to help “make a difference and send a strong message that domestic violence will not be tolerated in our communities, or in our world”.

Mr Corbett’s sister Tracey Lynch, who has custody of her brother’s children, wrote online: “Couldn’t be prouder of your kindness, resilience tenacity empathy and love."

Limerick businessman Jason Corbett died after he was beaten with a baseball bat and a concrete paving brick at his home on August 2, 2015.

His daughter Sarah was four when the family moved to the United States after their father married the children's former au pair Ms Martens.

The American began working for the family following the death of Mr Corbett’s first wife Mags, who died in 2006 following an asthma attack.