Fire marshal expected to testify in Connecticut home invasion murder trial

Fire marshal to testify in home invasion trial

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A fire marshal is expected to testify in the trial of a man charged in the killings of a woman and her two daughters in a Connecticut home invasion three years ago.

Testimony is to continue Friday in New Haven Superior Court in the case of Steven Hayes, one of two men charged with capital felony, murder, sexual assault and other crimes in the deaths of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her daughters, 17-year-old Hayley and 11-year-old Michaela.

Hayes and Joshua Komisarjevsky (koh-mih-sar-JEV’-skee) are also accused of setting the family’s house in Cheshire on fire. Hawke-Petit was strangled and the two girls died of smoke inhalation.

State forensic lab officials may also be testifying.

Both defendants face the possibility of the death penalty if convicted.