Prosecutors urge NC high court to uphold murder convictions

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Prosecutors in North Carolina are urging the state’s Supreme Court to uphold the murder convictions

of a woman and her father who were convicted of beating her husband to death in Davidson County.

The Winston-Salem Journal reported Sunday that the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office has filed a 96-page brief with the high court.

Molly Corbett, and her father, former FBI agent, Thomas Martens, were convicted of second-degree murder in 2017 for the death of Irish businessman Jason Corbett. Molly Corbett and her father claim self defense.

Prosecutor’s criticize an appeals court ruling in February that overturned the convictions. The appeals court had said that the trial judge made errors so prejudicial that they deprived Molly Corbett and Martens of having a fair trial.

One of Martens’ attorneys said his defense team plans to file a written response. Walter Holton, Molly Corbett’s attorney, did not respond to a request for comment from the newspaper.

It may take months before the state Supreme Court issues a ruling.