We’ve talked about this case before. Maybe some good news?
Steven Hayes was found guilty today in the deadly home invasion that left a woman and her two daughters brutalized and murdered, making him eligible for the death penalty…Hayes and Komisarjevsky broke into the Petit’s upscale Cheshire home in July 2007 and held them captive for hours, eventually raping Hawke-Petit and Michaela, pouring gasoline in the bedrooms, and setting the house on fire with the daughters tied to their beds.
Only the father, Dr. William Petit, survived. Brutally beaten and left bound in the basement, he managed to make his way out to a neighbor’s home. …Only one individual has been executed in Connecticut since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. That execution occurred in 2005 and was of serial killer Michael Ross, also known as the Roadside Strangler.
Let’s hope the court finds this penalty fitting. I can’t imagine a reason why not.
Also interesting to note that both men were convicts, and Hayes was on Parole, not sure about Komisarjevsky. Obviously they shouldn’t have been out on the streets.
The fact that the death penalty is even in question in this case shows exactly what’s wrong with our judicial system.
My heart goes out to the family, for this crime is truly the most horrible. And I am disgusted again by those who would belittle this crime because the weapons used were a ball bat, rape, and gasoline.
death penalty carried out by tying them to a bed and setting fire to it? please?
As interesting as that may be, and as little remorse I have for monsters such as this, I have to respectfully disagree. The death penalty should never be for retribution or revenge, nor is it eye-for-an-eye. IMHO the death penalty should be a swift, smooth penalty enacted on members of society who are too damaged to be repaired, or ever safely live amongst us. Executions should be carried out swiftly, painlessly, and with respect for the condemned.
Its my simple thought that some people are broken, and cannot be fixed by any human means. Be they a multiple murderer like Mr. Hayes, or a serial killer, or simply a violent rapist, or child molester. You can’t fix people like that, and they will forever be a danger if they are free. Also in captivity they pose a danger to their jailers, as well as fellow inmates. Lastly I fail to see the “humanity” of letting somebody rot in a cage until they die, vs. executing them with dignity for the protection of all.
I can agree with everything but the “respect” part – I can’t bring myself to consider any respect for people like that. An execution should be swift, painless, and simple for two simple reasons: a) to avoid dirtying our own psyches by committing torture; and b) they’re simply not worth the effort of doing anything other than permanently removing them from the world in the simplest and least involved method possible – and for horrible crimes like these that shows exactly how contemptible they are by demonstrating “he’s not worth the time or effort to do more.”
My preference would be hanging. It’s simple and cheap, while at the same time it’s not meant to produce any more pain and suffering than is necessary to get the job done.
Hanging is actually a GREAT method of execution, if done correctly death is fast and painless, also rather clean. Also given that worldwide and historically its one of the most common forms of execution the whole “Cruel and Unusual” bit goes out the window (not that people who crow about such things are generally sane).
As for Respect, well the person pulling the trap at the gallows should not be party to the crimes committed. Those who have been hurt by the condemned likely will have a lot more hurting to do even after the monster is in the ground. I simply mean as a society, I have a lot of respect for somebody who has taken so much “Paying his dues”. A great line from Stephen King’s finest book “The Green Mile” was on execution: “He’s paid what he’s owed. He’s square with the house again, so keep your goddamn hands off him.”
Of course in the end the “Respect” is simply the executioner paying himself, as all that is needed is for him (or her) to be professional in their duties as the corps is just the shell of a foul beast.
Both perps were on parole. They met at a half way house when they were released early.
It should be noted that the state does not dare put these two into general population- not so much because of the crime (tough Komisjarvesky would be in for it since general pop doesnt like child rapists/murderers) but because of these two prisoners are now kept in longer and very few now get the halfway house/early release treatment.
As a side note- Komisjarvesky used to break into peoples homes wearing NVGs. He used to take butcher knives, etc out of the kitchen then leave them all over the house- at one point he actually placed a knife between a sleeping couple in their own bed. He was released early by the parole board because he did not represent a threat- one unidentified board member said that waking up to find your house burgled and a knife in bed with you did not constitute “violence”.
Good lord, I suspect the courts dropped the ball in this case, but Jesus!
Also the NVGs imply he KNEW the residents were home. Since burglary does not require the residents to be home, and often is the preference of the thief, we can assume that he WANTED the residents home for some reason.
20/20 hindsight I think we can see some of that sick reason.
When can we start prosecuting the courts for letting these people out? In my mind they have responsibility for this too…
Certainly with Blackhawk’s information, I would certainly think there is at least SOME case of malpractice to be made…
I should point out that the COURTS had nothing to do with them getting out. Both were found guilty and sent up the river the last time for a number of years due to their repeat offender status.
It was the parole board that granted early release with, at the time, possible pressure from the State because of overcrowding. They were both released to a halfway house for non-violent offenders. It should also be noted that a LOT of prisoners here in CT were released over the years early if they were deemed non-violent.
As of today, Ohio has executed its 8th Convict of the year. This has set a new State record in the Modern era. Although it has only done 1/2 the amount of Texas this year. But in Ohio, we have CCW, Castle Doctrine and Affirmative Defense. Yet, in spite of all these Gun Freedoms, too many Buckeyes refuse to take advantage of these laws, and it is not unusual to turn on the news in any large Ohio city to find a murder occurring every few days. When I hear stories about what happened in Connecticut, I wonder how many of these would be reduced if the Family were ALLOWED by their Wonderful State Governments WHO KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU to have weapons for Self-Defense.
By the way, heard that during last night’s Connecticut Governors Debate, when asked if they would support the execution of these thugs, the Republican said yes, while the Democrat hemmed and hawed and tried to dodge the question.
Connecticut does have a CCW and actually we are not that bad as it comes to self defense although no Castl Doctrine.
As for Dr Petit my endocrinologist knows him and his family very well. They, unfortunately, were those starry eyed liberal types that believed nothing bad could ever happen and were staunchly anti-gun. They believed nothing could happen to them so strongly that a) they rarely put their home alarm on and b) would leave doors unlocked. The two scumbags that did this did exactly that- they walked in via an unlocked back door.
And my daughter wonders why I g ballistic when I find out that she only turns her alarm on when my son in law is not home. He is an anasthesiologist down in Austin TX. The last time we went and visited I checked all the doors before I went to bed one night and found there back door unlocked and large back window open with only a screen in place and no alarm on. I was chided for being “paranoid” when I brought this up the following morning and that “nothing ever happens as this is a nice neighborhood”. If 2 scumbags do this to my daughter and granddaughter I will do my utmost to kill them.
Jesus….There’s a reason why they don’t say “A Conservative is just a Liberal who’s had his family raped and burned to death…”
Fucking HORRIBLE case. They better execute.
Wow, I hadn’t heard about Ohio executing so many. Good to hear the death penalty DOES exist somewhere in America.
I’d just as soon abolish it than have how most states have it where people almost never get executed, and when they do its 30+ years after the crime.