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Survivor, Jury Relive Brutal Cheshire Home Invasion In Court

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Dr. William Petit Jr., enters a ceremony honoring his late wife and two daughters at Cheshire high school in Cheshire, Conn. on September, 19, 2007. All three had been killed in a home invasion on July 23, while Dr. Petit was severely beaten. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham, File)

Dr. William Petit Jr., enters a ceremony honoring his late wife and two daughters at Cheshire high school in Cheshire, Conn. on September, 19, 2007. All three had been killed in a home invasion on July 23, while Dr. Petit was severely beaten. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham, File)

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (CBS 2) – Jurors are reliving the horror of a brutal home invasion and triple-murder in a New Haven courtroom this week.

On Thursday, the only survivor sat through a presentation of crime scene photos of the home where his wife and two daughters were killed.

The house in Cheshire was bulldozed and turned into a memorial after the horrible home invasion three years ago.

The only survivor of the attack saw crime scene photos of the home Thursday at the trial of one of the men accused of wiping out his family.

Dr. William Petit remained composed and grateful.

“We’re happy with the way the prosecutions is presenting its case and things are moving along at a reasonable pace,” Dr. Petit said. “We have a lot of support, and we’d like to thank friends and people from all over the state and all over the country for their notes and texts and e-mails. You’ve been very supportive.”

The jury saw the horror through the eyes of crime scene photographer Sgt. Karen Gabienelli of the Connecticut State Police.

A shot of young Micahela Petit’s room was especially horrifying – flashes of pink décor visible through the fire damage, leading across the floor to the trundle bed where she died.

“The photos are difficult, although we all walked through the house many years ago,” said Cynthia Hawke-Renn, the sister of Dr. Petit’s wife. “We don’t cry at everything, but we have lived with this for over three years, and we did walk through the house a long time ago, so those images really stay in your mind even though you wish they could leave.”

There were pictures of the restraints used to tie up the mother and two daughters and shots of the charred clothing they wore. There were images of rifled dresser drawers and pillaged jewelry boxes, and three melted containers that police say contained the accelerant that spread the fatal fire. It’s all evidence, the state says, of cruel premeditation.

“I guess if you can have faith in a judicial system, I guess we’re trying to have it,” Hawke-Renn said.

The defendant, Steven Hayes, is apparently feeling the strain of the trial as well. He had a seizure Wednesday night in his prison cell.

Hayes’ lawyer said he was well enough to attend the trial Thursday morning, but at the lunch break he got the judge to agree to adjourn for the day.

In the tri-state area, Connecticut is the only state with a death penalty. The state legislature tried to repeal it in June, but the measure was vetoed by Governor Jodi Rell.

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12 Comments

mookie

i hate these men with a passion and i dont even no them i think they should be put in jail and be raped repeately…….if it was up to me i would have these men tortured and then killed they do not deserve to live at all but they will have to pay the ultimate price on there jugement day……..burn in hell………

September 29, 2010 at 1:27 pm

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hitobito

This horrific incident is precisely why it is important to have your home alarmed and both hot wired and battery connected to a fire and security company. Also, its important to protect your family with deadly force. An automatic shotgun or semi automatic Uzi are both good to have on hand. Also, your wife and daughters should be trained to use a semiautomatic handgun like a “lady” Smith & Wesson”. Alarm activation switches should be at least on every floor. The exterior of the home should be equipped with motion detectors, motion activated lights and cameras. All these security measures are present in my home. My wife is an expert with her Uzi and place a five inch pattern at 75 yards with a 160 round clip. DNFWH!

September 17, 2010 at 11:29 am

sherri

It DOES say ‘wife of wife’ YOU read it again

September 17, 2010 at 10:52 am

DanTe

The wife should have told the cops that there’s beer and donuts in the house. They would have rushed in faster than. And everybody would still be alive.

September 17, 2010 at 9:45 am

marge

These are “monsters” not animals

September 17, 2010 at 7:36 am

Pingback: Survivor, Jury Relive Brutal Cheshire Home Invasion In Court

Kevin

I don’t understand why it takes over three years…..I feel very sorry for the victims and the family, where is the fair justice for them!!! Even CT has death penalty…the killers probably will get away anyway by many reasons!!! very sad!!

September 16, 2010 at 8:55 pm

Chaz

you’re an idiot

September 16, 2010 at 8:39 pm

DanTe

Missed your donuts today, Chaz?

September 17, 2010 at 9:46 am

Zizzy Phus

“The photos are difficult, although we all walked through the house many years ago,” Cynthia Hawke-Renn, the wife of Dr. Petit’s wife, said. “We don’t cry at everything, but we have lived with this for over three years, and we did walk through the house a long time ago, so those images really stay in your mind even though you wish they could leave.”

what is the wife of Dr Petit’s wife? Does anyone read these before publication any longer?

September 16, 2010 at 7:33 pm

JOE AITCH

HEY ZIZZY IT SAYS”THE SISTER OF DR. PETIT’S WIFE…ARE YOU OK…

September 17, 2010 at 1:20 am

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