Coffee-Poisoning Husband Could Spend Life in Prison

A man found guilty of killing his estranged wife by poisoning her coffee with cyanide was sentenced to 19 years to life in prison today. David Steeves allegedly put cyanide, bought off the internet, in his wife's coffee on October 18th, 2008 and then left the house. When he returned he found her on the floor, and took her to the hospital. He then fled with their two teenage sons to England. But the boys knew what was up, and wrote to the judge that their father deserved "no mercy."

Steeves' 17-year-old son wrote to the judge, "My father has committed the most horrific crime I can imagine...What my father did can never be forgiven or forgotten." Steeves' attorney argued that he had originally bought the cyanide to kill himself, but gave it to his wife after he "chickened out." However, Steeves had previously told Det. Lt. Jack Fitzpatrick that he had told his wife he was gay, but was jealous at the thought of her seeing anyone else. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last month, but only after he was assured his sons would not be present for the sentencing.