Skip to content
NOWCAST WXII 12 News at 8 a.m. Saturday
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Jurors now deliberating in Corbett, Martens trial; closing arguments complete

Jurors now deliberating in Corbett, Martens trial; closing arguments complete
WEBVTT RINGAT ALL SINCE IT FIRST BEGAN.SHE JOINS US LIVE ONCE AGAIN INLEXINGTON.MALLORY?MALLORY: COURT IS DISMISSED FORTODAY.PROSECUTORS AND MOLLY MARTENSCORBETT DEFENSE TEAM WERE ABLETO PRESENT THEIR CLOSINGARGUMENTS THIS AFTERNOON.THOMAS MARTENS' DEFENSE COUNSELWILL PRESENT THEIR CLOSINGARGUMENTS IN THE MORNING AT 9:30MONTHS COURT RESUMES.DURING THEIR CLOSING ARGUMENT,PROSECUTORS PRESENTED VARIOUSPHOTOS OF VICTIM JASON CORBETTAND FROM THE SCENE OF THE MASTERSUITE IN THE CORBETT HOME ONAUGUST 2, 2015.THEY CALLED THE DEFENSE STORY INTHIS CASE EMPTY, BARREN, ANDCOLD.FURTHER, PROSECUTOR GREG BROWNSAID, "JASON CAN'T SPEAK TO YOU,BUT THIS BLOOD SPEAKS THE TRUTHAND SCREAMS FOR JUSTICE."MOLLY MARTENS CORBETT'S DEFENSEATTORNEY PRESENTED CLOSINGARGUMENTS AS WELL.WALTER HOLTON, THE DEFENSEATTORNEY, FOCUSED ON WHAT HESAYS IS INSUFFICIENT COLLECTIONOF EVIDENCE, SPECIFICALLY ABLONDE HAIR FOUND IN JASONCORBETT'S HAND AND LACK OF DNATESTING OF JASON AND MOLLY'SFINGERNAILS.HE TOLD THE JURY THAT "THEMINUTE THEY FIND REASONABLEDOUBT IN THIS CASE, YOUR WORK ISDONE."HE ALSO ASKED THE JURY TOCONSIDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES ASTHEY APPEARED TO MOLLY ANDTHOMAS MARTENS THAT MORNING.COMING UP AT 6:00, WE WIEXPLAIN WHAT IS STILL LEFT IN
Advertisement
Jurors now deliberating in Corbett, Martens trial; closing arguments complete
UPDATE: The case is now in the hands of the jury. On Tuesday, both Molly Martens Corbett and Thomas Corbett's attorneys wrapped up closing arguments.Both attorneys talked about the lack of evidence collected as well as lack of witness testimony from the state to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. The state then gave its rebuttal argument, demonstrating for the jury what happened that night in a dramatization. The jury is now deliberating the case. WXII News will alert you when a verdict is reached. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Closing arguments began in the Jason Corbett murder trial Monday afternoon in Davidson County Superior Court.Prosecutors and Molly Martens Corbett’s defense team finished their arguments before court adjourned. Thomas Martens’ defense team will pick up where Ms. Corbett’s counsel left off.After Thomas Martens’ defense gives their closing arguments Tuesday morning, the judge will need to charge the jury, which means the group of nine women and three men will receive instructions for how to interpret the law in this case.The crowd in the courtroom Monday was sizeable, the most people in the audience since the trial began.During their closing arguments Monday, the state used a PowerPoint presentation to show various photos of Jason Corbett, including photos from the scene, his body inside the ambulance and from the autopsy, as well as photos from the scene of the Corbett home – specifically in the master suite, where Mr. Corbett died on August 2, 2015.Prosecutors reiterated that there is no distinction between direct versus circumstantial evidence in this case. Attorneys reviewed testimony from the Corbetts’ neighbor, Mr. Fritzchie, and from Karen Capps, the 911 operator who took the call from Thomas Martens the morning Mr. Corbett was killed. Prosecutors claim that the CPR instructions Ms. Capps provided over the phone to Martens and Martens Corbett were not performed by either defendant and their claims to the contrary were “fake” and “staged for the story.” The state further alleged that Mr. Martens did not call 911 immediately, which was evidenced by the “dry, flaky blood on Jason Corbett’s chest and vacuum.”The state highlighted numerous times that they believe the evidence proved that Thomas Martens and Molly Martens Corbett used excessive force and posed the question several times to the jury, “why didn’t they stop?”Prosecutor Greg Brown said, “all evidence demonstrates that excessive force was used in the heinous, atrocious and cruel death of Jason Corbett.”Mr. Brown called the defense’s story in this case, “empty, barren and cold” and told the jury in closing, “Jason can’t speak to you, but his blood speaks the truth and screams for justice.”Molly Corbett’s defense team told the jury that they have two jobs. The first, to apply the law to things that they heard in court and then to explain their position to one another during deliberations.Attorney Walter Holton focused on what defense counsel claims is an insufficient collection of evidence by investigators in the case. They specifically discussed a blond hair that they said was pictured in Jason Corbett’s hand that morning, which was not collected or tested. They also emphasized a lack of DNA testing from both Molly and Jason Corbett’s hands and fingernails. Holton said that investigators failed to preserve evidence in this case that is necessary for the jury to make an informed decision. He told the jury that they should have a right to see everything before they’re asked to find someone guilty of anything.Holton asked the jury what Molly Corbett had to gain from Jason Corbett’s death. He said she is not in his will, she was not able to adopt Mr. Corbett’s two young children, she has no home and no assets.Holton asked the jury to consider the circumstances as they appeared to his client, Molly Corbett, and her father, Thomas Martens, that morning, including the size of Jason Corbett as well as his strength and the ages of all involved. He said, “what level of fear would Molly and Tom have….close your eyes, in your mind, think: what fear did Tom and Molly feel?”Defense attorney Walter Holton told the jury, “the minute you find reasonable doubt in this case, your work is done.”The judge had two separate charge conferences with attorneys Monday, outside of the jury’s presence. They went over the language that will appear in the charge.Both defendants are charged with second degree murder. The jury will have three options from which to choose when rendering their verdict: guilty of second degree murder, guilty of voluntary manslaughter or not guilty.Molly Martens chose not to testify on her own behalf.Court will resume Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m.

UPDATE: The case is now in the hands of the jury.

On Tuesday, both Molly Martens Corbett and Thomas Corbett's attorneys wrapped up closing arguments.

Advertisement

Both attorneys talked about the lack of evidence collected as well as lack of witness testimony from the state to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The state then gave its rebuttal argument, demonstrating for the jury what happened that night in a dramatization.

The jury is now deliberating the case.

WXII News will alert you when a verdict is reached.


PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Closing arguments began in the Jason Corbett murder trial Monday afternoon in Davidson County Superior Court.

Prosecutors and Molly Martens Corbett’s defense team finished their arguments before court adjourned. Thomas Martens’ defense team will pick up where Ms. Corbett’s counsel left off.

After Thomas Martens’ defense gives their closing arguments Tuesday morning, the judge will need to charge the jury, which means the group of nine women and three men will receive instructions for how to interpret the law in this case.

The crowd in the courtroom Monday was sizeable, the most people in the audience since the trial began.

During their closing arguments Monday, the state used a PowerPoint presentation to show various photos of Jason Corbett, including photos from the scene, his body inside the ambulance and from the autopsy, as well as photos from the scene of the Corbett home – specifically in the master suite, where Mr. Corbett died on August 2, 2015.

Prosecutors reiterated that there is no distinction between direct versus circumstantial evidence in this case. Attorneys reviewed testimony from the Corbetts’ neighbor, Mr. Fritzchie, and from Karen Capps, the 911 operator who took the call from Thomas Martens the morning Mr. Corbett was killed. Prosecutors claim that the CPR instructions Ms. Capps provided over the phone to Martens and Martens Corbett were not performed by either defendant and their claims to the contrary were “fake” and “staged for the story.” The state further alleged that Mr. Martens did not call 911 immediately, which was evidenced by the “dry, flaky blood on Jason Corbett’s chest and vacuum.”

The state highlighted numerous times that they believe the evidence proved that Thomas Martens and Molly Martens Corbett used excessive force and posed the question several times to the jury, “why didn’t they stop?”

Prosecutor Greg Brown said, “all evidence demonstrates that excessive force was used in the heinous, atrocious and cruel death of Jason Corbett.”

Mr. Brown called the defense’s story in this case, “empty, barren and cold” and told the jury in closing, “Jason can’t speak to you, but his blood speaks the truth and screams for justice.”

Molly Corbett’s defense team told the jury that they have two jobs. The first, to apply the law to things that they heard in court and then to explain their position to one another during deliberations.

Attorney Walter Holton focused on what defense counsel claims is an insufficient collection of evidence by investigators in the case. They specifically discussed a blond hair that they said was pictured in Jason Corbett’s hand that morning, which was not collected or tested. They also emphasized a lack of DNA testing from both Molly and Jason Corbett’s hands and fingernails. Holton said that investigators failed to preserve evidence in this case that is necessary for the jury to make an informed decision. He told the jury that they should have a right to see everything before they’re asked to find someone guilty of anything.

Holton asked the jury what Molly Corbett had to gain from Jason Corbett’s death. He said she is not in his will, she was not able to adopt Mr. Corbett’s two young children, she has no home and no assets.

Holton asked the jury to consider the circumstances as they appeared to his client, Molly Corbett, and her father, Thomas Martens, that morning, including the size of Jason Corbett as well as his strength and the ages of all involved. He said, “what level of fear would Molly and Tom have….close your eyes, in your mind, think: what fear did Tom and Molly feel?”

Defense attorney Walter Holton told the jury, “the minute you find reasonable doubt in this case, your work is done.”

The judge had two separate charge conferences with attorneys Monday, outside of the jury’s presence. They went over the language that will appear in the charge.

Both defendants are charged with second degree murder. The jury will have three options from which to choose when rendering their verdict: guilty of second degree murder, guilty of voluntary manslaughter or not guilty.

Molly Martens chose not to testify on her own behalf.

Court will resume Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m.