Posted on 08/07/2007 9:23:24 AM PDT by LurkedLongEnough
New Haven (WTNH) _ The two men accused in the murders of a Cheshire mother and her two daughters will be back in court September 18 for a probable cause hearing.
Under heavy guard Joshua Komisarjevsky and Steven Hayes were whisked into a New Haven Superior Court Tuesday morning to be arraigned on capital murder charges in the deaths of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her two daughters Hayley,17, and Michaela,11. They did not enter pleas and spoke only to yes or no questions.
Komisarjevsky and Hayes, both convicted burglars with long criminal histories, were out on parole at the time of the home invasion. If convicted they could be sentenced to death.
Many people waited outside the courthouse just to get a look at the men responsible for destroying a family. For some the frightening scenario is hitting close to home.
"I want to see justice for this, it was just horrible. I can't begin to tell you. Too close for comfort and very painful for me. I think about it every day," said Laura Wage, a Waterbury resident.
Residents weren't the only ones packing the area. An army of police patrolled the streets around the courthouse and about a dozen armed court marshals were stationed inside.
"I don't know maybe it was just to clear traffic, keep people from getting in the way, but I think anything right now is too good for them," said Wage.
Officials say because of the high profile of this case, they're not taking any chances.
"Following the lead of the Department of Corrections, they have some type of information there maybe a threat. So in meeting with them we are doing everything necessary to assure their safety," Captain Stephen Verrelli said.
State Attorney Michael Dearington says Tuesday's proceeding was just the first step in a long legal process.
It will certainly be a long process for the Petit family. Dr. William Petit was the only family member who survived the July 23rd attack.
While he was not in the courtroom today other family members were there.
In a statement the family said they were attending "out of respect of our loved ones, Jennifer, Hayley and Michaela.
"We understand that these men being arraigned have committed horrific acts of violence against our beloved family members, and that because those acts also violated numerous state laws the State has a responsibility to hold those individuals accountable for what they have done."
The family also said they support the job police and prosecutors are doing in the case. "We urge them to be thorough and complete in performing this very important work so that we may all be assured that the interests of justice are served."
Horrible, horrible case. I hope CT has the death penalty and uses it.
I read somewhere that these animals targeted the family because they had seen the wife and older daughter getting into a Mercedes outside a convenience store where they had stopped to buy a soda. The thugs followed them home and decided to break in later on, because they thought there’d be money and jewelery in the home.
Isn’t it time to stop the excessive spending just to protect THE GUILTY. Where was the effort made in the prior time to keep the predators behind bars and fulfill the states moral obligation to protect THE INNOCENT?
If some third party is going to go after the guilty, do we really care?
There are ALREADY LAWS against the third party committing a crime, but why all the enforcement expenditures to protect these two?
The state picks and chooses the laws worth putting law enforcement protection efforts into. Protect the accused and forget the innocent.
Wrong-o. Where did they get that from?
They ought to accidentally give them potassium chloride rather than salt with their meals.
This is why the death penalty is necessary.
So you think if they are GUILTY, we skip all this court nonsense, jury trials, and just execute them?
You got it............
But they don’t give the innocent the same protection. Put the resources AT LEAST in balance.
“So you think if they are GUILTY, we skip all this court nonsense, jury trials, and just execute them?”
I didn’t say for LEO to shoot them!
But if Joe average citizen can get mowed down on the street or have this happen in one’s home, leave the odds the same for the perps trip going to trial.
Sorry, but balance is overdue.
First law to enforce: individuals’ right to keep and bear arms.
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