Former FBI agent Thomas Martens, who was convicted of murdering Irish dad of two Jason Corbett, failed in his bid to be released from prison on Tuesday.
Lawyers for the 70 year-old argued that he should be allowed out because of the threat posed to him by Covid-19 due to his age.
Martens and his daughter Molly were sentenced to 20-25 years in prison but launched an appeal against their convictions, claiming they had not been given a fair trial.
Ms Martens first met Mr Corbett when she moved to Limerick from the US as his children’s nanny after his first wife died.
The pair married in 2011.
The North Carolina Court of Appeal ruled in February that both defendants were entitled to a fresh trial.
Thomas Martens’ legal team on Tuesday argued he did not pose a flight risk and he would voluntarily place himself in house arrest at his son’s home in North Carolina.
However, the request was opposed by the Davidson County District Attorney’s office.
Davidson County Assistant District Attorney Alan Martin insisted the claims by the defence were based on speculative evidence and stressed that prison carries certain risks.
