Alternate Juror Selection Continues for Komisarjevsky Trial

Defense lawyers and prosecutors return to New Haven Superior Court today to try to pick alternate jurors for the second Cheshire home invasion trial.

No jurors were picked Monday for the trial of Joshua Komisarjevsky, who faces the death penalty for the triple homicide in 2007 of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her two daughters.

So far, the attorneys have picked twelve regular jurors and one alternate. They must still choose five more alternates and three backup alternates.

According to an agreement between the attorneys and the court, until the trial starts, if regular jurors drop out, the alternates will fill their spots in the order they are selected. But once the trial starts, state law requires the vacancy to be filled by a randomly selected alternate.