Judge: Jury has reached verdict in trial of man charged in Conn. home invasion killings
By APTuesday, October 5, 2010
Conn. jury reaches verdict in home invasion trial
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A Connecticut judge says a jury has reached a verdict in the trial of a man charged in the 2007 home invasion killings of a woman and her two daughters.
The verdict is expected to be announced shortly.
Steven Hayes faces 17 charges including capital felony, murder, arson and sexual assault in connection with the deaths of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her daughters, 11-year-old Michaela and 17-year-old Hayley, at their Cheshire (CHESH’-ur) home. Hawke-Petit’s husband, Dr. William Petit, was beaten but survived.
If Hayes is convicted of capital felony, the same jury will return for a penalty phase to determine if he should receive the death penalty. A co-defendant, Joshua Komisarjevsky, will be tried next year.
