Dr. Petit speaks about the death penalty appeals process in Connecticut and Virginia

Reporter: Dr Petit, what about the appeals process and the prospect that this could go on for years and years... Obviously there is a mandatory appeals that has to happen by statute, but beyond that the attorneys have already ...(hard to hear).

Dr. Petit: Yeah I just say think the Connecticut legislature has to get its act together. Other states like Virginia do it appropriately and they need this you know there really should be an expedited appeal to the states Supreme Court. And if that's denied than I think an execution date should be set. Then I think state and federal habeas appeals should be done simultaneously. And I think if those are not found to have any merit than I think an execution date should be set again. And it works in Virginia. And its hard for me to believe that we're not as bright as the people in Virginia and cant create a law that actually works in the name of justice, in the name of victims. So yeah, we don't we don't lose a lot of sleep over it but we think we think the appeals system in death penalty cases in Connecticut, the legislators make kind of a joke of it and they really need to do something about it to fix it. Although clearly there are people whose intention is to completely repeal the death penalty.
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Dr. Petit is right on, a man of impeccable character and devotion.

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Where is the justice? Where is the deserved punishment for this horrible crime? Delaying compliance with the Jury's recommendation for death usurps the rule of law. There is no justice until both Komisarjevsky and Hayes are executed. That both the Hayes and Komisarjevky juries unanimously decided that these criminals be put to death is only the first step in the justice process. For justice to be achieved, the death sentence must be carried out. Only when Hayes and Komisarjevsky are executed, in accordance with the rule of law, in accordance with the decision of the juries, will there be justice.

Justice has already been compromised.

There was no speedy trail (over 3 years to bring Hayes to trial, over 4 years to bring Komisarjevsky to trial).

During the penalty phase, the "Rule of Evidence" does not apply so the defense can make up any story it fancies in an attempt to show the murders' as victims, as otherwise harmless petty thieves, nice fellows who were abused as innocent little children. And, in separate trials (one for Hayes, another for Komisarjevsky), each pointed the finger at the other, each blamed the other for the brutality of the crimes, for things getting "out of control."

During the penalty phase, there were no victim impact statements allowed that could show the jury how the actions of these horrible criminals have affected and destroyed the lives of others. The penalty phase overwhelmingly favors the criminals. It disregards the impact, the consequences, that the crime has on the victims, family members, friends, and the community. It censors pertinent information and presents the jury with an incomplete view of the situation. It ignores material and significant facts relevant to the decision the jury has to make. It is a mockery of justice.

During the penalty phase, the defense gave no consideration of time or duration to the length of their testimony. They went on and on for weeks making outrageous accusations (without any evidence) of blame on other people, circumstances, and Christians for the actions of Komisarjevsky. They tried to make it everyone's fault except Komisarjevsky's. It was a colossal waste of time, a blasphemy of justice, an insult to the jury's intelligence.

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• Dr. Petit
• William Petit
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• Penalty
• Appeals
• Process
• Cheshire
• Connecticut
• home
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• murder
• Virginia
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• Komisarjevsky

[nicspic2011]

Good statement by Dr. Petit. He is correct about the appeals system. Virginia does NOT let attorneys for condemned inmates play games with the appeals process. They are afforded due process, but the state regularly seeks execution dates to keep the ball rolling.