Father and daughter killers Molly and Tom Martens - who bludgeoned an Irishman to death in the US - could be freed over Easter as the deceased’s family fights for a retrial.
Limerick businessman Jason Corbett, 39, was brutally beaten to death in his bed at his home in Walburg, North Carolina, in August 2015 with an aluminium baseball bat and paving stone.
His wife Molly Martens Corbett, 37, and her father, retired FBI agent Tom Martens, 71, were convicted by a jury in North Carolina in 2017 of second-degree murder and sentenced to between 20-25 years in high-security prisons.
Now Jason’s brother, John P Corbett, has written to US President Joe Biden expressing his “dismay” at a decision by the District Attorney in Davidson County, North Carolina, to offer his brother’s killers a plea bargain.
It could see them released in 22 months and for a week over Easter, as they have six days to consider the plea deal offer or choose a retrial.
A retrial would see them released on bond until next year ahead of a new court case.
John, who works for the NHS in England, said: “I cannot hide my true sadness and hurt at hearing the news about Tom and Molly Martens being appeased and facilitated by the North Carolina justice system.
“Two cold individuals who used weapons way beyond the reasonable amount of force necessary to kill someone.
“Two individuals who did not have a scratch on them in their obscene self-defence plea.
“Sadly the justice system seems, in this case, to be working for the murderers, and not for the life they have coldly taken for their own narcissistic agenda.”
The Martens have been moved from a high-security prison to Davidson County jail in Lexington, North Carolina, ahead of their bail hearing next week.
Jason Corbett’s sister Tracey Corbett-Lynch who, along with her husband David Lynch, are legal guardians for her deceased brothers' children Jack, 16, and Sarah, 14, said they were “devastated” at the DA’s decision.
Tracey has urged the public to sign a petition, which has attracted thousands of signatures, calling for a retrial.
