Molly Corbett and her father, Thomas Martens, have been sentenced to additional prison time after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the beating death of Molly’s husband, Jason Corbett, in 2015. The sentence was handed down by Davidson Superior Court Judge David Hall, who ordered them to spend between 51 and 74 months in prison.
Last week, Corbett pleaded no contest and her father pleaded guilty, two years after their second-degree murder convictions were reversed by the North Carolina Supreme Court. The new trial comes after the court’s decision to grant them a fresh opportunity to present their case. However, due to good behavior sentencing reduction earned during the 44 months they have already served, Corbett and Martens will only serve an additional seven months behind bars. Previously, they had been sentenced to serve from 20 to 25 years.
The incident occurred at the Corbett’s home in a golf course community in Davidson County. Investigators revealed that Molly Corbett and Martens, a former FBI agent, used an aluminum baseball bat and brick paver to kill Jason Corbett. The attack resulted in a fractured skull and injuries to his arm, legs, and torso. Defense attorneys argued that Molly and Martens were acting in self-defense and feared for their lives during a struggle.
The couple had met in 2008 when Molly Corbett worked as an au pair, caring for Jason Corbett’s two children from his previous marriage. Jason’s first wife had died in 2006 due to an asthma attack.
During the sentencing, Judge Hall expressed his frustration over the lack of clarity in the case. He questioned why Martens or his wife, Sharon, who was also present in the house, did not call 911. He also found it puzzling that Molly Corbett and Martens sustained minimal injuries while Jason Corbett was fatally beaten.
Martens apologized for his actions and emphasized his respect for the law. He claimed that he had no choice but to intervene when he witnessed Jason Corbett choking Molly and attempting to drag her to a hallway. Molly Corbett defended her actions, stating that she made the decision to protect her father from certain death.
In his closing argument, prosecutor Alan Martin focused on Molly Corbett, accusing her of failing to accept responsibility for her actions. Both defense attorneys requested lenient sentences with no additional active time in prison.
Impact statements were provided by Jason Corbett’s children, Sarah and Jack. Sarah, now 17, expressed her disappointment in defense witnesses and attorneys who manipulated her words at the age of 8 to secure lenient sentences for Molly Corbett and Martens. Jack admitted to lying to investigators about the case when he was 10, feeling that his words were instrumentalized to help Molly and Martens evade justice.
Both Sarah and Jack urged Judge Hall to impose the maximum sentence of 25 years for Molly Corbett and Thomas Martens, emphasizing the value of their father’s life.
Ultimately, the case highlights the complex nature of the incident and the search for truth, leaving Judge Hall grappling with unanswered questions.
