Defense: 2nd Conn. home-invasion defendant escalated violence; prosecutor says blame is shared

Defense: Other Conn. defendant escalated violence

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The lawyer for one of the men charged in a deadly home invasion has told a Connecticut jury that the other suspect was responsible for escalating the violence.

Tom Ullmann, the attorney for Steven Hayes, delivered his closing argument on Friday in New Haven Superior Court.

Hayes is accused of killing of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her daughters, 11-year-old Michaela and 17-year-old Hayley, at their Cheshire home. The other suspect, Joshua Komisarjevsky, is awaiting trial.

Ullmann says that, at every critical juncture, Komisarjevsky escalated the violence, starting with attacking Dr. William Petit, the only survivor, with a baseball bat.

Earlier Friday, prosecutor Michael Dearington said both suspects were equally responsible.

Deliberations are to begin next week.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — The lawyer for one of the men charged in a deadly home invasion has told a Connecticut jury that the other suspect was responsible for escalating the violence.

Tom Ullman, the attorney for Steven Hayes, delivered his closing argument on Friday in New Haven Superior Court.

Hayes is accused of killing of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her daughters, 11-year-old Michaela and 17-year-old Hayley, at their Cheshire home. The other suspect, Joshua Komisarjevsky, is awaiting trial.

Ullmann says that, at every critical juncture, Komisarjevsky escalated the violence, starting with attacking Dr. William Petit, the only survivor, with a baseball bat.

Earlier Friday, prosecutor Michael Dearington said both suspects were equally responsible.

Deliberations are to begin next week.

(This version corrects the spelling of Ullmann.)