Conn. attorney faces contempt order for speaking outside court about 2007 home invasion case

Conn. home invasion attorney faces contempt order

NEW HAVEN, Con. — An attorney for one of two Connecticut men charged with killing a mother and her two daughters in a 2007 home invasion is facing a criminal contempt of court hearing after speaking out about the case.

New Haven Superior Court Judge Roland Fasano on Monday ordered attorney Jeremiah Donovan to appear Oct. 6. Fasano said Donovan’s statement outside of court Friday violated a gag order and could prejudice the trials of both men.

Donovan represents Joshua Komisarjevsky (koh-mih-sar-JEV’-skee), who is awaiting trial. His co-defendant, Steven Hayes, is on trial.

Donovan said Friday he did not believe he was violating the gag order and was trying to clear up what he said was a misunderstanding by the victims’ relatives related to charges that Komisarjevsky sexually assaulted one of the girls.

His comments outraged the victims’ family.