Six Jurors Picked So Far for Komisarjevsky Trial

Forty jurors were examined today, but none were selected to serve on the jury for the death penalty trial of Joshua Komisarjevsky, the second Cheshire home invasion defendant.

Komisarjevsky, 30, faces the death penalty for the triple homicide in 2007 in which Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her two daughters, Hayley, 17, and Michaela, 11, were killed.

Six jurors have been chosen so far, including a woman from Bethany who was picked on Wednesday.

No peremptory challenges were used by either the defense or the prosecution today. Peremptory challenges may be used to excuse jurors without giving a reason.

Since jury selection began on March 16, the defense has used 15 peremptory challenges and the prosecution has used 11. Each side may use up to 40 during jury selection.

The lawyers must pick 12 jurors, six alternate jurors and three backup alternates for the trial, which is scheduled to begin in September.

Jury selection in 2010 for Komisarjevsky’s co-defendant, Steven Hayes, 47, took about 10 weeks, not including several weeks when it was delayed because Hayes attempted suicide.

Hayes was convicted in a separate trial last year and is on death row.