Can children demand death penalty for father if he murders their mother?

There was a case where a father killed the mother and the children demanded death sentence for the father. But it was rejected by the court because it said it was violating Islamic Law. It stated: "The Islamic jurisprudence stipulates that if a husband has become an heir to the deceased and an heir to the blood after the death of his wife, a son or daughter cannot demand for retribution or revenge for their father." Can anyone provide evidences for this rule?