Conn. attorney tells jury client killed woman in home, said things ‘got out of control’

Conn. attorney admits client killed woman in home

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A Connecticut prosecutor is warning jurors that they may hear about “indescribable” events during the trial of a man charged in the 2007 killings of a woman and her two daughters.

State’s Attorney Michael Dearington and Public Defender Thomas Ullmann gave opening statements Monday in New Haven to begin Steven Hayes’ trial.

The defense attorney told the jury that Hayes sexually assaulted and killed Jennifer Hawke-Petit. Her 11- and 17-year-old daughters died from smoke inhalation after their home in Cheshire (CHESH’-uhr) was set on fire by the suspects.

But Ullmann says Hayes told police that things “got out of control,” and that Hayes’ co-defendant, Joshua Komisarjevsky (koh-mih-sar-JEV’-skee), said no one was supposed to get hurt.

Hayes is facing the death penalty. Komisarjevsky is awaiting trial.