BANGOR, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — A judge sentenced Keith Coleman to life in prison for a triple murder in Garland back in 2014 Thursday.
Coleman was found guilty last November of murdering his girlfriend, 36-year-old Christina Sargent, her 10-year-old son Duwayne Coke and 8-year-old daughter Destiny Sargent.
Coleman reportedly told police he chased after the children and strangled them because they had witnessed their mother's death.
Sentencing was expected to happen earlier this month, but was postponed. The family of the victims said they have been waiting for this day for years.
"It's all over today," Phillip Sargent said before entering the Penobscot County Judicial Center Thursday.
Before his sentence was delivered, Coleman spoke for the first time telling the judge, "I hope you have mercy on me."
The judge emphasized the history of domestic violence throughout Coleman’s life, and referred to his behavior following the incident “callous.”
“Life is the only appropriate sentence,” Justice Ann Murray said.
Family members, who also read emotional statements on how the tragedy impacted them Thursday, wept as Murray sentenced Coleman to life behind bars.
Coleman was also ordered to pay nearly $20,000 dollars in restitution to cover the family's funeral expenses.
"This case sends a message: real men don't hit their wives and they certainly don't kill their wives. If you do you're going to spend the rest of your life behind bars," Asst. Attorney General Donald Macomber said.
The victims' family said they plans to continue their efforts to combat domestic violence.
"It doesn't bring them back, but it's a message to anyone out there who things about doing the same type of crime," Mary Wooster, Christina Sargents' mother, said.
Wooster said the family has helped raise more than $14,000 to help those experiencing domestic violence.
Christina’s Sergant’s brother Phillip even plans become an advocate at Next Step Maine.
As for the defense, they said they still plan to appeal.
