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Molly Martens had ‘strong provocation’ to kill her husband Jason Corbett, documents show

Molly Martens had ‘strong provocation’ to kill her husband Jason Corbett, documents show

The sentences for Molly Martens, who was jailed for the brutal murder of her Irish husband Jason Corbett, were as follows: she acted on “strong provocation” and was previously a “person of good character”, it has been found.

A checklist of “mitigating circumstances” for Martens, which arranged her release from prison, indicated that she had acted under duress, threats and coercion.

According to the court, none of these reasons were sufficient to ‘constitute a defence’, but all three had ‘significantly reduced the defendant’s guilt’.

There was one more point on her sentencing checklist: ‘The suspect acted under strong provocation.’

A checklist of
Molly Martens. Photo: Michael Chester

According to the court, Martens had been of good character until her husband’s murder and had a ‘good reputation’ in the community where she lived.

The decision was signed by the person who oversaw her trial, District Court Judge David Hall, in a document titled Felony Judgment: Findings of Aggravating and Mitigating Factors (Structured Sentencing).

It was argued that Martens had a support system outside of prison and that a more lenient sentence was warranted based on the evidence and arguments presented during the trial and hearing.

The documents also detailed a long list of factors that could have made the crime worse.

However, at the end a box was checked that said: ‘No aggravating factors were found.’

The list of possible aggravating circumstances included on the official forms included cases where a crime was committed for money or was “particularly heinous, cruel or gruesome.”

The prison service had accidentally set December 2023 as the release date for Molly Martens and Tom Martens, but later realised this was a mistake.
The prison service accidentally set a release date for Molly Martens and Tom Martens in December 2023 before realizing it was a mistake. Photo: GoGetFunding

Other factors included cases where the victim was very young, very old, mentally or physically ill, or had a disability.

A separate form signed by Judge Hall, entitled Sentencing and Commitment Active Punishment – ​​Felony (Structured Sentencing), stated that Martens was prohibited from having any contact with the victim’s family.

An immediate assessment should also be conducted to determine whether Martens posed a suicide risk and all available mental health services should be provided.

The form stated, “(She) must undergo a psychiatric evaluation by a physician—not a psychologist—and then receive any treatment that may be indicated based on that evaluation.”

“The suspect must be given every opportunity to continue her education,” the form read.

The documents were released by the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction after a Freedom of Information Act request was filed regarding the incorrect date Molly Martens and her father Tom Martens were released late last year.

The prison service had accidentally set December 2023 as the release date for Molly Martens and Tom Martens, but later realised this was a mistake.

An internal email from a supervisor said, “Apparently I entered their sentences incorrectly into our system.”

Molly Martens and her father were ultimately sentenced to just four years and three months in prison for the brutal murder of Mr Corbett in 2015.
Molly Martens in 2017. Photo: Michael Chester

“I have previously classified earned demerit points as prison sentences and as a result they were below their mandatory minimum sentence, which is not allowed by law.”

“I have updated both sheets and they both need to be sent to the Department of Adult Corrections. Sorry for the confusion,” the email added.

The error caused great consternation within the department, with a senior official wondering what had happened, given that these were such “important cases.”

Mrs Martens and her father reached a plea agreement last fall, accepting a manslaughter conviction in exchange for the prosecution dropping the murder charge. The decision was a huge blow to Mr Corbett’s family.

Mr Corbett was sedated and then beaten to death with a brick and a baseball bat, leaving his two children without their father and mother Margaret, who tragically died in 2006 from an asthma attack.

Martens and her father were ultimately sentenced to just four years and three months in prison for the brutal murder of Mr Corbett in 2015.

Mr Corbett first met Molly Martens when she came to Ireland to care for his son and daughter.

Martens and Mr. Corbett became involved, later married, and moved to the United States, settling near Lexington, North Carolina.

Martens and her father were convicted of murder in 2017, but appealed the conviction, which was later overturned, resulting in a new trial and a subsequent settlement.

Both will remain under probation supervision for a year after their release, but they are not required to remain living in North Carolina.