Judge Gives Mother Life Sentence For Each Of Slain Sons

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A mother who murdered her twin 4-year-old sons in 2001 will spend the first night of her two life sentences behind bars Friday.

Leslie Demeniuk sat emotionless as her fate was announced. She already knew it would be life in prison -- the mandatory sentence.

Her attorney argued Demeniuk shot and killed her boys because prescription drugs caused her to be temporarily insane, but the jury did not buy the story.

The boys' father, Tommy Demeniuk, presented one of two victim impact statements at Friday's hearing.

Tommy Demeniuk clutched a photograph of himself with his sons during happier times as he told the judge all about the boys, their favorite books and games. He made no mention of Leslie Demeniuk.

Nobody took the stand in defense of Leslie Demeniuk, although her stepfather, Eric Shoenig, told reporters after the hearing that she was a victim, too.

"The gun that really killed our grandsons was not the gun that Leslie Demeniuk fired, but the gun that the pharmaceutical companies put in her hand," Shoenig said.

Before the sentencing, Leslie Demeniuk's lawyer asked the judge to set aside the verdict. That was denied and Leslie Demeniuk was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences, one for each of the little boys.

Previous Stories:

• January 18, 2006: Former Boyfriend Of Mom Who Killed Twins Still Supports Her
• January 17, 2006: Mother Found Guilty In Slayings Of Twin Sons
• January 13, 2006: Defense Rests; Prosecutors Call Rebuttal Witness In Demeniuk Murder Trial
• January 12, 2006: Medical Expert Says Mother Who Killed Her Sons Had Psychotic Episode
• January 11, 2006: Prosecution Rests, Defense Presents First Witnesses In Demeniuk Murder Trial
• January 10, 2006: Jury In Demeniuk Murder Trial Hears Grim Crime Scene Evidence
• January 9, 2006: Boyfriend Of Woman On Trial In Sons' Murder Says Drugs Changed Her Behavior
• January 6, 2006: Father Of Slain Twins First To Testify In Murder Trial For Ex-Wife
• January 5, 2006: Jury Selected In Trial For Mother Accused Of Shooting Twins
• January 4, 2006: Trial Begins Of Mother Accused Of Killing 4-Year-Old Twins
• March 4, 2004: Judge Allows Insanity Defense For Mother Accused Of Killing Twins
• April 26, 2002: Detective: Woman Killed Twins To Spite Ex-Husband
• March 21, 2001: Drugs, Alcohol Can Induce Violent Behavior, Doctors Say
• March 20, 2001: 911 Tapes: Boyfriend Finds Twins' Bodies, Panics
• March 19, 2001: Mother Charged With Killing Twin Sons