Molly and Thomas Martens will not appeal their jail sentences
Thomas Martens and his daughter Molly Martens were transferred to a correctional centre on Thursday after spending the night in a holding cell in Davidson County jail. Picture: Perfecta Visuals
Molly Martens and her father Thomas will not be appealing their sentences, US lawyers have said.
The pair were jailed on Wednesday for a minimum of seven months and just under two years (23 months) for the manslaughter of Limerick man Jason Corbett.
The 39-year-old from Limerick was beaten to death with a baseball bat and brick by his American wife and father-in-law on August 2, 2015, at his North Carolina home.
Thomas Martens and his daughter Molly Martens were transferred to a correctional centre on Thursday after spending the night in a holding cell in Davidson County jail.
Jones Byrd and Jay Vannoy, who are representing retired FBI agent Thomas Martens, spoke to reporters outside Davidson County Court following his sentence hearing.
Mr Vannoy said they will not be appealing their cases, and they expect Thomas Martens “will be out after seven months”.
Mr Vannoy said he does not expect his client to serve the maximum 74 months (23 remaining). The pair have already served 44 months in jail.
“No, I expect he’ll be out in seven months - given all the credit he’s accumulated,” he said.
When asked if that is justice, he replied “yes”.
Both attorneys were then asked if the sentence handed down was “typical for a voluntary manslaughter defendant to get such a short prison sentence”.
Jones Byrd replied: “It's unusual but I think it reflects the very particular and unusual facts of this case.
Mr Vannoy added “There is nothing typical about this case, nothing. I mean this is an extraordinary case, an extraordinary set of circumstances.
"I think that judge believed that, saw that, we typically don’t have this many mitigating factors in this type of manslaughter or murder case.
“Tom Martens has lived, I mean, I don’t know how you can live a better life, he’s never raised his voice, never lost his temper, something in that room caused him to do that.
“He’s having to pay for that, so 51 months is more than just”.
Mr Vannoy said he spoke to Thomas Martens following the judgement, “We went to talk to Tom, Tom’s comments were to us ‘I’m going take care of my family’, that’s his main concern” he said.
Mr Byrd said Tom Martens would have been affected listening to Jason Corbett's children - Jack and Sarah - statements.
“I think it would be hard to watch your daughter go through that and not be affected”, he said.
During their victim impact statements both Sarah and Jack Corbett said their former stepmother Molly Martens was a “monster” who taught them how to lie and steal.
“Well, I think that was very difficult for her to listen to,” said Mr Vannoy.
“We sat and heard all the evidence, listened to all the videotapes, I think Molly did the best job she could do raising those kids as a surrogate mother."
Speaking to Judge Hall during his victim impact statement Jack Corbett, 19, said: “Your honour, don’t be fooled by this mask of civility of Molly Martens.
“I want to be clear: I had never witnessed my dad hit Molly Martens – ever. I am not under duress now; I want you to look at me standing here today and know the truth.
“Molly Martens needs to be locked away for as long as possible so she cannot do this to another family, another child.
"It is my biggest fear and gives me nightmares. She will do it again if she finds the opportunity.
“Your honour, I hope you can see me here before you, the trauma that I have experienced and will have to live with until the day I die”.
Judge Hall ordered a psychiatric assessment on Molly Martens and placed her on suicide precaution.
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