Komisarjevsky Jury Selection Focuses on Backup Alternates

Jury selection for the Joshua Komisarjevsky trial finished choosing alternate jurors last week and will now focus on the selection of three backup alternates.

The sixth alternate, who was picked on June 2, is the only male alternate. He replaces a female alternate who was excused after she said she could not be fair and impartial.

Twelve regular jurors were previously selected for the trial, which is scheduled to begin on Sept. 19 in New Haven.

Komisarjevsky is charged with 17 counts including capital felony murder, kidnapping, arson, larceny, burglary, assault and sexual assault for the murders of a Cheshire mother, Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her two daughters, Hayley, 17, and Michaela, 11, in 2007.

If convicted, he faces the death penalty or life without the possibility of release. His co-defendant, Steven Hayes, was convicted in a separate trial last year and is on death row.

The defense has used 36 peremptory challenges and prosecutors have used 35. Each side gets a maximum of 40, to excuse jurors without stating a reason.