Jason Corbett’s murder, Molly Martens, was ‘provoked’ and previously ‘a person of good character’, sentence conditions claim

A checklist of ‘mitigating factors’ for Ms Martens, which arranged her release from prison, indicated that she had acted under duress, threat and coercion.

It was argued that none of these reasons were sufficient to ‘constitute a defence’, but that each had ‘significantly reduced the defendant’s culpability’.

She had a good reputation in the community in which she lived

Another item on her sentencing checklist was checked off: “The suspect acted under strong provocation.”

It said that Martens had been of good character until her husband’s murder and that she had a “good reputation” in the community in which she lived.

Tom and Molly Martens are released from prison after serving more than four years for the murder of Jason Corbett

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).”

A long list of factors that may have aggravated the offense was also given, but at the end a box was instead checked that read: “There are no findings of aggravating factors.”

A separate form signed by Judge Hall, entitled ‘Judgment and Commitment Active Punishment — Felony (Structured Sentencing)’, said Martens was prohibited from any contact with the victim’s family. It also said an immediate assessment should be conducted to see if Martens posed a suicide risk and that all available mental health services should be offered.

The form stated: “(She) must undergo a psychiatric evaluation by a physician – not a psychologist – and then be offered any treatment that may be indicated as a result of that evaluation.

“The suspect must be given every opportunity to continue her education.”

The documents were released by the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction after a Freedom of Information Act request was filed about the incorrect date she was released late last year.

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

An internal email from a supervisor said: “Apparently I have their punishments set up incorrectly in our system. I previously gave earned demerit points as jail time and that brought them below their mandatory minimum, 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 error caused great consternation within the department, with a senior official wondering what had happened, given the ‘high profile’ nature of the cases.

Molly and Tom Martens were ultimately sentenced to just four years and three months in prison for the barbaric murder

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 Jason Corbett’s family.

They were both released in June.

Mr Corbett was sedated and then beaten to death with a brick and a baseball bat, leaving his two children without their father.

Their mother, Margaret, tragically passed away in 2006 from an asthma attack.

Molly and Tom Martens were ultimately sentenced to just four years and three months in prison for the barbaric murder that took place in 2015.

Mr Corbett first met Molly Martens when she travelled to Ireland to care for his two children.

The two began a relationship, 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.