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Politics & Government

Jury Selection Continues for Home Invasion Murder Case

Majority of Jurors Excused Because of Financial Hardship Concerns or Lack of Impartiality

Defense lawyers and prosecutors are questioning potential jurors again today for the trial of Joshua Komisarjevsky, the second Cheshire home invasion defendant.

No jurors were selected Tuesday. So far, two men and three women have been named for the jury.

The difficulty stems from two factors, the expected length of the trial, especially the penalty phase, and the fact that most prospective jurors have heard enough about the case to form strong opinions about it.

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Judge Jon C. Blue tells jurors that the trial, which is scheduled to start in September, could last up to three months. A majority of employers only pay an employee’s salary for a week or two of jury service.

About half of the jurors have been excused by Judge Blue after they said serving for three months would be a financial hardship for them.

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Komisarjevsky, 30, is facing the death penalty for the triple homicide of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her two daughters in 2007 at their Cheshire home. Hawke-Petit and one daughter, Michaela, 11, also were sexually assaulted.

Judge Blue excused many jurors after they admitted they have formed strong opinions about the case based on news media coverage and could not make an impartial decision.

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