The daughter of  Jason Corbett said she is “losing faith” after the retrial for her father’s murder was postponed by nearly six months.  

Irish widower Jason Corbett was found beaten to death in North Carolina in August 2015.  

His American-born second wife Molly Martens and her father Tom Martens were both convicted of the second-degree murder of Mr Corbett after a trial in 2017. 

Following an appeal, the conviction was overturned by the North Carolina Supreme Court, and a retrial was scheduled to begin this July. 

The retrial has now been delayed to November 2023 for unspecified reasons.  

"Losing faith"

Mr Corbett’s 16-year-old daughter Sarah posted on social media that she is “losing faith” in the justice system.  

“The perpetrators of my father's killing walk free,” she said. “I'm imprisoned in the system. What did I do?” 

She said she has been living for "eight years under the North Carolina judicial system" and asked to "please give me back my little life".

“We only ask for a retrial to go ahead so my family can grieve and learn to live again.” 

A “judicial tumble dryer” 

Irish Independent journalist Ralph Riegel told The Pat Kenny Show the family fear there could be another postponement. 

"We could be looking at the retrials potentially being pushed into 2024,” he said. 

Mr Riegel said the family are shocked that the trial was delayed only eight weeks ahead of the original date.  

“The family has done travel preparations, flights, accommodation,” he said. “They did effectively plan their year around this retrial.” 

He said Mr Corbett’s children Sarah (16) and Jack (18) have “spent more than half [their lives] caught in this judicial tumble dryer between court cases, appeals, new appeals.” 

Poignant 

He said the two children were left “orphaned” by their father’s death and have been “quite remarkable”. 

“It’s quite poignant to hear a young person who has been incredibly brave in facing up to the things that life has thrown at them,” he said.  

Mr Riegel said the family have been “very strict” about complying with the judge’s gag order and have not spoken about the trial.  

Despite that, people are “entitled to talk about their feelings and the impact of various matters on them”. 

Mr Riegel said Jack Corbett is due to begin his Leaving Certificate this June, while Sarah Corbett is due to begin her Leaving Certificate next year.