JACK and Sarah Corbett are to remain in the guardianship of their aunt after a US Superior Court Judge rejected an appeal by the estranged wife of murdered Limerick man Jason Corbett to gain custody of his children.
The 39-year-old Janesboro native died last August from fatal head injuries he received in a domestic incident at the home he shared with Molly Martens in North Carolina.
Ms Martens, who married Mr Corbett following the death of his first wife Mags in 2006, is a person of interest in the police investigation into her husband’s death. Her father, Thomas Martens, is also listed as a person of interest.
11 year-old Jack and eight-year-old Sarah, who ate Mr Corbett’s children from his first marriage, were at the centre of a bitter custody battle which resulted in his sister Tracey Lynch and her husband David being recognised as their lawful guardians.
Molly Martens then lodged an appeal to the Superior Court challenging the guardianship arrangement outlined in her husband’s will.
This was rejected on Tuesday night by Superior Court Judge Ted Royster who said that the District Court was correct in ruling to grant guardianship to David and Tracey Lynch.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Ms Martens again took to Facebook, as she regularly does, and directed messages at the young children.
“Our lives do not matter in the eyes of the law,” she posted adding that “what matters, in the eyes of the law, is that I do not share your blood and I am not listed as your guardian on a document created before I met you. I am heartbroken, and devastatingly sorry.”
However the facebook page “Bring Justice for Jason” carried a message on behalf of the Corbett family, stating that “Jack and Sarah can continue to be brought up in a safe and loving environment in accordance with their Daddy’s wishes.”
