Conn. Home Invasion Update: Steven Hayes' reading list cited by co-defendant Joshua Komisarjevsky
(CBS/AP) NEW HAVEN, Conn. - In one more attempt to place the blame for a deadly home invasion on his co-defendant, Joshua Komisarjevky is pointing to the prison reading list of Steven Hayes, who has already been convicted and sentenced to death for the 2007 Cheshire, Conn. killings of a mother and two daughters in the Petit family.
Attorneys for Komisarjevsky, who's waiting the start of jury selection in his capital case later this week, have filed court papers claiming Hayes read books in prison before the crime depicting violent murders and the burning of victims. The papers contend Komisarjevsky didn't intend for Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her daughters, Michaela, 11, and, Hayley, 17, to die.
On Friday, Komisarjevsky also offered to plead guilty in exchange for a sentence of life in prison without parole, in a bid to avoid the capital sentence Hayes received.
Prosecutors say both men were equally responsible for the crimes.
Komisarjevky's attorneys say Hayes checked out 24 fictional books in prison the year before the July 2007 home invasion. They say the majority of the books, according to the state
Department of Correction, "pertain to very violent murders to include strangulation, rape, arson, serial killing, satanic torture and the burning of victims. Most victims are women."
Hayes was convicted of raping and strangling Hawke-Petit. The girls died of smoke inhalation after they were tied to their beds and the house was set on fire.
The court papers for the first time disclosed which books Hayes had checked out. Hayes' attorneys asked a judge before his trial to bar evidence of books he read in prison, but prosecutors never raised the issue.
The books include 'Split Second" by David Baldacci, "Battle Born" by Dale Brown, "Lullaby" by Diane Guest, "Manhattan Nocturne" by Colin Harrison, "The River Sorrow" by Craig Holden,
"Dead Air" by Rochelle Krich, "Beyond Recognition" by Ridley Pearson, "Unholy Fire" by Whitley Strieber and "Harm's Way" by Steven White.
Prison officials said two pages were missing from one book describing "psychological terror and demonic possession" and that the preceding pages describe a woman being strangled in detail.
Prison officials could not find seven books Hayes had checked out, according to Komisarjevsky's attorneys.
Prison officials began reviewing the library policy last year after an Associated Press investigation that found inmates had unrestricted access to works depicting graphic violence. Garnett said Monday a review of how other states and the Federal Bureau of Prisons handle the issue is continuing.
Click here for complete coverage of the Petit family case on Crimesider.