Family of murdered Jason Corbett to ask for fast-track retrial of killers Molly and Tom Martens

The plea will be made amid fears the North Carolina retrial could be stalled until early 2023 – jeopardising the key exam years in Ireland of Mr Corbett’s two children, Jack (18) and Sarah (16).

Both children – who were left orphaned by their father’s brutal killing in August 2015 – celebrated birthdays over the past 10 days.

Jack is now scheduled to sit his Leaving Cert, while Sarah is scheduled to sit her Junior Cert.

The Corbett family’s plea for a priority hearing came amid concerns about the impact on the children, who will be key witnesses at the retrial, of another lengthy trial delay.

Judge David Hall will today stage a key pre-trial hearing with prosecutors and defence attorneys in Lexington, Davidson County, North Carolina, in respect of the proposed retrial.

A key priority for the hearing will be agreeing a retrial date.

The hearing will be staged six months after a preliminary retrial hearing in March, and four months after a trial date was originally to have been confirmed.

Any retrial is expected to last for up to seven weeks.

Mr Corbett’s sister, Tracey Corbett-Lynch, and her husband Dave will attend today’s hearing in Lexington.

Three members of the Corbett family – Tracey and Mr Corbett’s two siblings, Marilyn and Wayne – formally wrote to Davidson County district attorney Garry Frank last month to urge an expedited retrial.

Ms Corbett-Lynch has spearheaded the campaign for justice for her brother.

She declined to comment on the matter for legal reasons.

Like Jack and Sarah, she is also expected to be a witness at any retrial.

A family spokesperson said they are determined to end “the judicial nightmare” for the two children – who have endured a murder investigation, a murder trial, a protracted appeals process and now a stalled retrial for over seven years.

“Justice delayed is justice denied. That is the message we will be bringing to North Carolina,” a spokesperson said.

“Our priority is to see justice done for Jason and to protect his two children.”