WILKES-BARRE -- The families of Hugo Selenski's murder victims spoke out on Thursday, now that the trial in Luzerne County is over.
And prosecutors held an afternoon news conference to talk about the case that they weren't allowed to talk about before.
Just hours after a jury recommended life in prison for Hugo Selesnki, he spoke to Newswatch 16, maintaining his innocence for the murders of Michael Kerkowski and Tammy Fassett.
On Thursday the district attorney's office and the victims' families said the jury made the right decision.
"We understand that Mr. Selenski has maintained his innocence and we think that is preposterous based on the evidence we put forth."
That's what prosecuting attorney Sam Sangudolce and the Luzerne County district attorney's office had to say about Hugo Selenski's comments after a jury sentenced him to life in prison.
Prosecutors call the murder conviction and sentence justice for the families of Kerkowski and Fassett.
"We basically gave them something they have been waiting for, for a long time, that you can put a value on," said prosecutor Jarrett Ferentino.
A gag order prevented the D.A.'s office and the victims' families from speaking during the trial. But now with it all over, the family of Tammy Fassett wants people to know what this experience has been like for them.
"The last 13 years have been really rough on all of us," said Fassett's niece Ashely Owen.
They say while many people have viewed this case as a decade-long Hugo Selenski saga, it's not about Selenski at all, but about Michael and Tammy.
"She was my best friend, not just my sister. We would tell each other everything," said Fassett's sister Lisa Sands.
"She has kids, she has a family. She has three brothers, another sister besides my mom," Owen added.
Fassett's sister Lisa Sands and niece Ashley Owen spoke to Newswatch 16 in Wyoming County. They say they respect the life in prison penalty the jury gave Selenski, but admit it was hard listening to his family members plead with the jury.
"At least they got the chance to stand in there and sit in there and beg for his life not to be taken from him. We didn't have that opportunity. As Sam and Jarrett both said, we never got the chance to hug her and we never will again," Owen said.
We were in communication with Kerkowski's family and they say they are not yet ready to speak on camera but will soon.
Family of both victims say they are moving to some sense of closure now that Selenski has been convicted of first degree murder and will never get out of prison.
