Martella's attorney, Melina Benninghoff, says, "He's having a hard time with the entire process and the way the whole court process panned out was appropriate based on the evidence the District Attorney's office had."
Martella's father and other family members were present in court. Steven Martella was seen shaking his head as he heard emotional statements from family and friends of Terry Gaton and Ann Marie Bruce. In court, Brian Bruce, the father of his and Ann Marie's two young children said, "[Our children] are very devastated to this day. I don't know how long it's going to take for them to recover... Steven Martella took something away from them that they loved. They loved their mother. They loved Terry Gaton and his family."
Keith Fagundes, Prosecutor, says "He made clear that those kids will suffer their lifetimes without their mother and any punishment on him - whether it's life without parole or death penalty - whatever it could have been, it isn't going to change their pain and grief as well with Terry Gaton's family."
Monday's sentencing was the start of some closure for Terry Gaton and Ann Marie Bruce's family. Steven Martella's family hopes he will be put in a prison close by so they can visit him.
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