petit murder - criminal law word list

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  1. home invasion
    burglary of a dwelling while the residents are at home
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    Highlights from the Archives
    Suspects Face Jeers and Victims’ Family in New Haven
    By ALISON LEIGH COWAN and STACEY STOWE

    NEW HAVEN, Aug. 7 — With roughly a dozen members of the Petit family sitting grimly in the front two rows, the two parolees accused of murdering three of their relatives during a brutal home invasion last month in Cheshire appeared in court on Tuesday under intense security.
  2. conn
    conduct or direct the steering of a ship or plane
    Report an Error
    Times Topics > People > P > Petit Family
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    Petit Family Killings

    Updated: Sept. 14, 2010

    As a police officer approached the home of the Petit family in Cheshire, Conn., on the morning of July 23, 2007, two men ran from the scene as flames poured out of the house.
  3. hospitalize
    admit into a hospital
    September 22, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS, SEX CRIMES, CHESHIRE (CONN), KOMISARJEVSKY, JOSHUA, HAYES, STEVEN J

    Cheshire Trial Postponed After Judge Falls Ill
    By THE NEW YORK TIMES

    Judge Jon C. Blue, presiding over a triple-murder case in Connecticut, was hospitalized over the weekend for testing and observation.
  4. parolee
    someone released on probation or on parole
    And word that the two suspects arrested at the scene were both convicted felons out on parole led to new questions being raised about the state's methods of tracking parolees.
  5. death penalty
    putting a condemned person to death
    The capital murder charges could bring the death penalty upon conviction.
  6. defense lawyers
    the defendant and his legal advisors collectively
    September 15, 2010
    Connecticut Triple-Murder Trial Begins
    Connecticut Triple-Murder Trial Begins
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    Steven Hayes’s lawyer blamed the other defendant for the escalation of violence in the Cheshire, Conn., robbery of the family of Dr. William Petit Jr.
    September 14, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS, CHESHIRE (CONN), HAYES, STEPHEN J, KOMISARJEVSKY, JOSHUA

    William Petit Poses Challenge to Defense Lawyers
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    Dr. Willia...
  7. murder
    unlawful premeditated killing of a human being
    The suspects, Joshua Komisarjevsky, of Cheshire, and Mr. Hayes, of Winsted, have been charged with six counts of capital murder, in addition to several counts of arson, kidnapping and sexual assault.
  8. fire marshal
    the head of a fire department
    September 27, 2010
    Cheshire Murder Jury Is Told Accelerant Was Used
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    A Connecticut fire marshal testified that a flammable liquid had been poured across the beds of the Petit sisters, who, along with their mother, died.
  9. sexual assault
    a statutory offense that provides that it is a crime to knowingly cause another person to engage in an unwanted sexual act by force or threat
    The suspects, Joshua Komisarjevsky, of Cheshire, and Mr. Hayes, of Winsted, have been charged with six counts of capital murder, in addition to several counts of arson, kidnapping and sexual assault.
  10. firefighter
    a member of a fire department who tries to extinguish fires
    September 24, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: FIRES AND FIREFIGHTERS, CHESHIRE (CONN), HAYES, STEVEN J

    Connecticut Murder Defendant’s Text Messages Detailed
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    In the hours before three members of the Petit family were slain in a home invasion, the men accused in the case exchanged text messages that were revealed Thursday in court.
  11. criminal contempt
    an act of disrespect that impedes the administration of justice
    Lawyer Called to Court Over Remarks to Media
    By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

    A judge on Monday ordered an attorney for one of two men charged with killing a mother and her two daughters in a 2007 home invasion to explain why he shouldn't face criminal contempt proceedings for speaking out about the case.
  12. Sorghum
    annual or perennial tropical and subtropical cereal grasses: sorghum
    There were photographs of the well-kept neighborhood including Sorghum Mill Drive and just one of the yellow flames licking the roof of the Petits’ house.
  13. juror
    a member of a group that delivers a verdict at a trial
    The trial's first day did not feature the most gruesome of the crime scene photographs lawyers had told the 12 jurors and 4 alternates to expect.
  14. vital sign
    sign of life
    Vital Signs: Regimens: Massage Benefits Are More Than Skin Deep
    7.
  15. killing
    the act of terminating a life
    Report an Error
    Times Topics > People > P > Petit Family
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    Petit Family Killings

    Updated: Sept. 14, 2010

    As a police officer approached the home of the Petit family in Cheshire, Conn., on the morning of July 23, 2007, two men ran from the scene as flames poured out of the house.
  16. capital punishment
    putting a condemned person to death
    September 3, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS, CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, CHESHIRE (CONN), PETIT, WILLIAM A JR, HAYES, STEPHEN J

    Two Triple-Murder Trials Intersect, Six Years Later
    Two Triple-Murder Trials Intersect, Six Years Later
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    The same judge, chief prosecutor and lead defense lawyer involved in a 2004 triple-murder trial will reunite in the trial of Steven J. Hayes in the Petit family killings in Cheshire, Conn.
  17. endocrinologist
    physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the endocrine system
    The shock the killings caused in the bucolic community was amplified by the prominence of the victims: Dr. Petit is a well-known endocrinologist and his wife had been active in fundraising for local causes.
  18. flammable
    easily ignited
    September 27, 2010
    Cheshire Murder Jury Is Told Accelerant Was Used
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    A Connecticut fire marshal testified that a flammable liquid had been poured across the beds of the Petit sisters, who, along with their mother, died.
  19. police lieutenant
    an officer in a police force
    September 17, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS, CHESHIRE (CONN), HAWKE-PETIT, JENNIFER, ULLMANN, THOMAS J, BLUE, JON C, HAYES, STEVEN J

    Testimony on Finding Victims of Triple Killing
    Testimony on Finding Victims of Triple Killing
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    A police lieutenant and two firefighters testified about entering a burning home in Cheshire three years ago.
  20. police detective
    a police officer who investigates crimes
    September 23, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS, SEX CRIMES, CHESHIRE (CONN), NEW HAVEN (CONN), KOMISARJEVSKY, JOSHUA, HAWKE-PETIT, JENNIFER, PETIT, MICHAELA, PETIT, WILLIAM A JR, HAYES, STEVEN J

    Account Given of Cheshire Triple Murder
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    A State Police detective told a riveted courtroom the details of a suspect’s confession after his arrest in the Cheshire, Conn., home invasion that left a woman and her two daughters dead.
  21. family
    a group of people related to one another
    Report an Error
    Times Topics > People > P > Petit Family
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    Petit Family Killings

    Updated: Sept. 14, 2010

    As a police officer approached the home of the Petit family in Cheshire, Conn., on the morning of July 23, 2007, two men ran from the scene as flames poured out of the house.
  22. hemoglobin
    a red protein in blood that transports oxygen
    He mentioned his hemoglobin level before the crime and compared it with the count taken after, when he was treated for multiple head wounds and extensive blood loss.
  23. trial
    the act of testing something
    More than three years later, on September 13, 2010, the trial of one of the suspects, Steven J. Hayes opened in Cheshire.
  24. adobe
    sun-dried brick used in hot dry climates
    Adobe Government Sol.
    Learn How Adobe Technologies are Improving Government Transparency
    www.Adobe.com/Government
  25. murder charge
    an indictment charging someone with murder
    The capital murder charges could bring the death penalty upon conviction.
  26. defense lawyer
    the lawyer representing the defendant
    September 3, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS, CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, CHESHIRE (CONN), PETIT, WILLIAM A JR, HAYES, STEPHEN J

    Two Triple-Murder Trials Intersect, Six Years Later
    Two Triple-Murder Trials Intersect, Six Years Later
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    The same judge, chief prosecutor and lead defense lawyer involved in a 2004 triple-murder trial will reunite in the trial of Steven J. Hayes in the Petit family killings in Cheshire, Conn.
  27. wiretap
    the act of secretly recording someone's communication device
    U.S. Tries to Make It Easier to Wiretap the Internet
    8. 36 Hours in Chicago
    9.
  28. attempted
    tried unsuccessfully
    September 23, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS, SEX CRIMES, CHESHIRE (CONN), NEW HAVEN (CONN), KOMISARJEVSKY, JOSHUA, HAWKE-PETIT, JENNIFER, PETIT, MICHAELA, PETIT, WILLIAM A JR, HAYES, STEVEN J

    Account Given of Cheshire Triple Murder
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    A State Police detective told a riveted courtroom the details of a suspect’s confession after his arrest in the Cheshire, Conn., home invasion that left a woman and her two daughters dead.
  29. prominence
    the state of being widely known or eminent
    The shock the killings caused in the bucolic community was amplified by the prominence of the victims: Dr. Petit is a well-known endocrinologist and his wife had been active in fundraising for local causes.
  30. invasion
    any entry into an area not previously occupied
    It was instead something of a gentle entry into the home-invasion narrative that became fodder for national magazines and crime shows.
  31. penalty
    the disadvantage or painful consequences of an action
    The capital murder charges could bring the death penalty upon conviction.
  32. defendant
    someone against whom an action is brought in a court of law
    Another son, Benedict, who became an electrical contractor in Cheshire, is the father of the defendant.
  33. prosecutor
    an official conducting criminal cases on behalf of the state
    Prosecutors say the two suspects had roomed together recently in a halfway house in Hartford.
  34. iconic
    relating to a symbolic figure
    Murder Trial Opens
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    As the trial of a suspect in the Cheshire, Conn., killings begins, certain details recall iconic cases — those of the Lindbergh baby and the family of “In Cold Blood.”
  35. police car
    a car in which policemen cruise the streets
    July 25, 2007nyregionNews
    Woman and 2 Daughters Killed in Connecticut Home Invasion
    Woman and 2 Daughters Killed in Connecticut Home Invasion
    By THOMAS J. LUECK and STACEY STOWE

    Two men invaded a suburban home, held a family hostage for hours, set fire to the house and then rammed three police cars before they were subdued.
  36. empathy
    understanding and entering into another's feelings
    Obama, Empathy and the Midterms
    7.
  37. suspect
    regard as untrustworthy
    And word that the two suspects arrested at the scene were both convicted felons out on parole led to new questions being raised about the state's methods of tracking parolees.
  38. tied up
    kept occupied or engaged
    The police said that the victims had been tied up in separate rooms, and that Ms. Hawke-Petit and one of the daughters were sexually assaulted before the house was set on fire.
  39. accuse
    blame for; make a claim of wrongdoing or misbehavior against
    Hide
    Highlights from the Archives
    Suspects Face Jeers and Victims’ Family in New Haven
    By ALISON LEIGH COWAN and STACEY STOWE

    NEW HAVEN, Aug. 7 — With roughly a dozen members of the Petit family sitting grimly in the front two rows, the two parolees accused of murdering three of their relatives during a brutal home invasion last month in Cheshire appeared in court on Tuesday under intense security.
  40. unrecognizable
    unable to be identified, often because of significant change
    The neighbor testified on Sept. 13 how he found a bloody, almost unrecognizable, Dr. Petit in his driveway as flames burst from the house.
  41. police officer
    a member of a police force
    Report an Error
    Times Topics > People > P > Petit Family
    Recommend
    E-MAIL
    Petit Family Killings

    Updated: Sept. 14, 2010

    As a police officer approached the home of the Petit family in Cheshire, Conn., on the morning of July 23, 2007, two men ran from the scene as flames poured out of the house.
  42. escalation
    an increase or intensification
    September 15, 2010
    Connecticut Triple-Murder Trial Begins
    Connecticut Triple-Murder Trial Begins
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    Steven Hayes’s lawyer blamed the other defendant for the escalation of violence in the Cheshire, Conn., robbery of the family of Dr. William Petit Jr.
    September 14, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS, CHESHIRE (CONN), HAYES, STEPHEN J, KOMISARJEVSKY, JOSHUA

    William Petit Poses Challenge to Defense Lawyers
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    Dr. Willia...
  43. lawyer
    a professional person authorized for legal practice
    The trial's first day did not feature the most gruesome of the crime scene photographs lawyers had told the 12 jurors and 4 alternates to expect.
  44. bucolic
    devoted to raising sheep or cattle
    The shock the killings caused in the bucolic community was amplified by the prominence of the victims: Dr. Petit is a well-known endocrinologist and his wife had been active in fundraising for local causes.
  45. fossil fuel
    energy-producing substance derived from preserved organisms
    Beyond Fossil Fuels: Can We Build in a Brighter Shade of Green?
    10.
  46. testify
    give a solemn statement in a court of law
    Dr. Petit testified on the second day of the trial, describing his desperate attempt to get help after hearing one of the robbers say it was "all going to be over in a couple of minutes.''
  47. arson
    malicious burning to destroy property
    The suspects, Joshua Komisarjevsky, of Cheshire, and Mr. Hayes, of Winsted, have been charged with six counts of capital murder, in addition to several counts of arson, kidnapping and sexual assault.
  48. donate
    give to a charity or good cause
    Dalai Lama Donates to Center in Wisconsin
    6.
  49. tied
    bound or secured closely
    The police said that the victims had been tied up in separate rooms, and that Ms. Hawke-Petit and one of the daughters were sexually assaulted before the house was set on fire.
  50. police
    the force of policemen and officers
    Report an Error
    Times Topics > People > P > Petit Family
    Recommend
    E-MAIL
    Petit Family Killings

    Updated: Sept. 14, 2010

    As a police officer approached the home of the Petit family in Cheshire, Conn., on the morning of July 23, 2007, two men ran from the scene as flames poured out of the house.
  51. blog
    an online journal where people post about their experiences
    MOST POPULAR

    * E-Mailed
    * Blogged
    * Searched

    1.
  52. invade
    march aggressively into a territory by military force
    The police said that after invading the Petit home, they forced Ms. Hawke-Petit to come with them to a local bank and withdraw $15,000.
  53. in cold blood
    in an insensitive, unemotional manner
    Murder Trial Opens
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    As the trial of a suspect in the Cheshire, Conn., killings begins, certain details recall iconic cases — those of the Lindbergh baby and the family of “In Cold Blood.”
  54. legal system
    a system for interpreting and enforcing the laws
    The trial has been described as a test of the legal system and of the death penalty.
  55. set on fire
    set fire to; cause to start burning
    The police said that the victims had been tied up in separate rooms, and that Ms. Hawke-Petit and one of the daughters were sexually assaulted before the house was set on fire.
  56. capital
    a large alphabetic character used in writing or printing
    The suspects, Joshua Komisarjevsky, of Cheshire, and Mr. Hayes, of Winsted, have been charged with six counts of capital murder, in addition to several counts of arson, kidnapping and sexual assault.
  57. kidnapping
    (law) the unlawful act of capturing and carrying away a person against their will and holding them in false imprisonment
    The suspects, Joshua Komisarjevsky, of Cheshire, and Mr. Hayes, of Winsted, have been charged with six counts of capital murder, in addition to several counts of arson, kidnapping and sexual assault.
  58. accused
    a defendant in a criminal proceeding
    Hide
    Highlights from the Archives
    Suspects Face Jeers and Victims’ Family in New Haven
    By ALISON LEIGH COWAN and STACEY STOWE

    NEW HAVEN, Aug. 7 — With roughly a dozen members of the Petit family sitting grimly in the front two rows, the two parolees accused of murdering three of their relatives during a brutal home invasion last month in Cheshire appeared in court on Tuesday under intense security.
  59. testimony
    something that serves as evidence
    In his testimony in September 2010, Dr. Petit said he had been tied up all night, and had not heard much from upstairs, where two men were holding his family.
  60. gruesome
    shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
    The trial's first day did not feature the most gruesome of the crime scene photographs lawyers had told the 12 jurors and 4 alternates to expect.
  61. sexually
    with respect to sexuality
    The police said that the victims had been tied up in separate rooms, and that Ms. Hawke-Petit and one of the daughters were sexually assaulted before the house was set on fire.
  62. seduction
    enticing someone astray from right behavior
    The Seduction of the Tea Partiers
    10.
  63. crime
    an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
    The trial's first day did not feature the most gruesome of the crime scene photographs lawyers had told the 12 jurors and 4 alternates to expect.
  64. victim
    an unfortunate person who suffers from adverse circumstances
    The police said that the victims had been tied up in separate rooms, and that Ms. Hawke-Petit and one of the daughters were sexually assaulted before the house was set on fire.
  65. desultory
    marked by lack of definite plan, purpose, or enthusiasm
    The juror, John Lively, wrote that he was troubled by the ''halting, desultory'' approach of the prosecutors, Michael Dearington and Gary Nicholson.
  66. felon
    someone who has been legally convicted of a crime
    And word that the two suspects arrested at the scene were both convicted felons out on parole led to new questions being raised about the state's methods of tracking parolees.
  67. punishment
    the act of imposing a penalty
    September 3, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS, CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, CHESHIRE (CONN), PETIT, WILLIAM A JR, HAYES, STEPHEN J

    Two Triple-Murder Trials Intersect, Six Years Later
    Two Triple-Murder Trials Intersect, Six Years Later
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    The same judge, chief prosecutor and lead defense lawyer involved in a 2004 triple-murder trial will reunite in the trial of Steven J. Hayes in the Petit family killings in Cheshire, Conn.
  68. judge
    an official who decides questions before a court
    Lawyer Called to Court Over Remarks to Media
    By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

    A judge on Monday ordered an attorney for one of two men charged with killing a mother and her two daughters in a 2007 home invasion to explain why he shouldn't face criminal contempt proceedings for speaking out about the case.
  69. exam
    a set of questions testing your skill or knowledge
    July 22, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: PRISONS AND PRISONERS, MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS, BOOKS AND LITERATURE, LIBRARIES AND LIBRARIANS, CHESHIRE (CONN), HAYES, STEPHEN J

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  70. robbery
    larceny by threat of violence
    And he made it plain that Mr. Hayes contends that it was Mr. Komisarjevsky who turned what was to be a reckless robbery into something else.
  71. chaotic
    completely unordered and unpredictable and confusing
    He quoted Mr. Hayes’s telling a police officer in the first chaotic moments after his capture that “things got way out of control.”
  72. assault
    attack someone physically or emotionally
    The police said that the victims had been tied up in separate rooms, and that Ms. Hawke-Petit and one of the daughters were sexually assaulted before the house was set on fire.
  73. parole
    a conditional release from imprisonment
    And word that the two suspects arrested at the scene were both convicted felons out on parole led to new questions being raised about the state's methods of tracking parolees.
  74. brutal
    resembling a beast; showing lack of human sensibility
    Hide
    Highlights from the Archives
    Suspects Face Jeers and Victims’ Family in New Haven
    By ALISON LEIGH COWAN and STACEY STOWE

    NEW HAVEN, Aug. 7 — With roughly a dozen members of the Petit family sitting grimly in the front two rows, the two parolees accused of murdering three of their relatives during a brutal home invasion last month in Cheshire appeared in court on Tuesday under intense security.
  75. death
    the permanent end of all life functions in an organism
    If he is found guilty, a second portion of the trial would determine if he will be sentenced to death.
  76. courtroom
    a room in which a lawcourt sits
    September 23, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS, SEX CRIMES, CHESHIRE (CONN), NEW HAVEN (CONN), KOMISARJEVSKY, JOSHUA, HAWKE-PETIT, JENNIFER, PETIT, MICHAELA, PETIT, WILLIAM A JR, HAYES, STEVEN J

    Account Given of Cheshire Triple Murder
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    A State Police detective told a riveted courtroom the details of a suspect’s confession after his arrest in the Cheshire, Conn., home invasion that left a woman and her two daughters dead.
  77. invading
    involving invasion or aggressive attack
    The police said that after invading the Petit home, they forced Ms. Hawke-Petit to come with them to a local bank and withdraw $15,000.
  78. harshly
    in a harsh or unkind manner
    September 15, 2010
    Juror Is Dismissed After He Complains
    By THE NEW YORK TIMES

    NEW HAVEN -- A juror in the Cheshire murder trial was dismissed on Tuesday after writing the judge a note harshly criticizing prosecutors in the case.
  79. dismissed
    having lost your job
    September 15, 2010
    Juror Is Dismissed After He Complains
    By THE NEW YORK TIMES

    NEW HAVEN -- A juror in the Cheshire murder trial was dismissed on Tuesday after writing the judge a note harshly criticizing prosecutors in the case.
  80. subdue
    put down by force or intimidation
    July 25, 2007nyregionNews
    Woman and 2 Daughters Killed in Connecticut Home Invasion
    Woman and 2 Daughters Killed in Connecticut Home Invasion
    By THOMAS J. LUECK and STACEY STOWE

    Two men invaded a suburban home, held a family hostage for hours, set fire to the house and then rammed three police cars before they were subdued.
  81. Defense
    the federal department responsible for safeguarding national security of the United States; created in 1947
    September 15, 2010
    Connecticut Triple-Murder Trial Begins
    Connecticut Triple-Murder Trial Begins
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    Steven Hayes’s lawyer blamed the other defendant for the escalation of violence in the Cheshire, Conn., robbery of the family of Dr. William Petit Jr.
    September 14, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS, CHESHIRE (CONN), HAYES, STEPHEN J, KOMISARJEVSKY, JOSHUA

    William Petit Poses Challenge to Defense Lawyers
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    Dr. Willia...
  82. defense
    the act of guarding someone or something against attack
    Yet the defense sketched out its case more than it had before.
  83. intruder
    someone who enters a place or situation without permission
    The spraying he heard but could not identify turned out, perhaps, to be the gasoline the intruders used to set fire to the house.
  84. seizure
    the taking possession of something by legal process
    September 19, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS, CHESHIRE (CONN), HAWKE-PETIT, JENNIFER, PETIT, MICHAELA, PETIT, WILLIAM A JR, PETIT, HAYLEY, HAYES, STEVEN J

    Testimony Is Suspended in Connecticut Murder Trial
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    Word that the man accused, Steven J. Hayes, had had a seizure in jail led the judge in the Connecticut case to send jurors home until Monday.
  85. apprehended
    fully understood or grasped
    They were quickly apprehended.
  86. prison
    a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
    July 28, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS, CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, CHESHIRE (CONN), DEATH PENALTY INFORMATION CENTER, CULLIGAN, PATRICK, HAYES, STEPHEN J

    Prison Books Bring Twist to Connecticut Killings
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    Defense lawyers are suggesting that a prison librarian gave Steven Hayes a literary blueprint for the murders.
  87. kidnap
    take someone away against their will, often for ransom
    The suspects, Joshua Komisarjevsky, of Cheshire, and Mr. Hayes, of Winsted, have been charged with six counts of capital murder, in addition to several counts of arson, kidnapping and sexual assault.
  88. Death
    the personification of death
    August 8, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS, CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, CHESHIRE (CONN), HAYES, STEPHEN J

    Cheshire Killings Defendant Challenges Death Penalty
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    A lawyer for a defendant in the notorious Cheshire triple-murder case argued that a legislative move to eliminate the death penalty showed that under “an evolving standard of decency,” capital punishment is now viewed as cruel and unusual.
  89. kill
    cause to die
    July 25, 2007nyregionNews
    Woman and 2 Daughters Killed in Connecticut Home Invasion
    Woman and 2 Daughters Killed in Connecticut Home Invasion
    By THOMAS J. LUECK and STACEY STOWE

    Two men invaded a suburban home, held a family hostage for hours, set fire to the house and then rammed three police cars before they were subdued.
  90. prediction
    a statement made about the future
    He said he was alert when he heard the chilling prediction that it would all be over soon.
  91. respond
    show a reaction to something
    Coming into consciousness, he said, he may have shouted something — perhaps “Hey!”

    “Don’t worry,” he said a voice responded.
  92. on fire
    lighted up by or as by fire or flame
    The police said that the victims had been tied up in separate rooms, and that Ms. Hawke-Petit and one of the daughters were sexually assaulted before the house was set on fire.
  93. grimly
    in a grim implacable manner
    Hide
    Highlights from the Archives
    Suspects Face Jeers and Victims’ Family in New Haven
    By ALISON LEIGH COWAN and STACEY STOWE

    NEW HAVEN, Aug. 7 — With roughly a dozen members of the Petit family sitting grimly in the front two rows, the two parolees accused of murdering three of their relatives during a brutal home invasion last month in Cheshire appeared in court on Tuesday under intense security.
  94. consciousness
    an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself
    Coming into consciousness, he said, he may have shouted something — perhaps “Hey!”

    “Don’t worry,” he said a voice responded.
  95. hostage
    a prisoner held to insure that another party will meet terms
    July 25, 2007nyregionNews
    Woman and 2 Daughters Killed in Connecticut Home Invasion
    Woman and 2 Daughters Killed in Connecticut Home Invasion
    By THOMAS J. LUECK and STACEY STOWE

    Two men invaded a suburban home, held a family hostage for hours, set fire to the house and then rammed three police cars before they were subdued.
  96. blamed
    expletives used informally as intensifiers
    September 15, 2010
    Connecticut Triple-Murder Trial Begins
    Connecticut Triple-Murder Trial Begins
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    Steven Hayes’s lawyer blamed the other defendant for the escalation of violence in the Cheshire, Conn., robbery of the family of Dr. William Petit Jr.
    September 14, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS, CHESHIRE (CONN), HAYES, STEPHEN J, KOMISARJEVSKY, JOSHUA

    William Petit Poses Challenge to Defense Lawyers
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    Dr. Willia...
  97. excuse
    a defense of some offensive behavior
    Op-Ed Columnist: Structure of Excuses
    5.
  98. reckless
    marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences
    And he made it plain that Mr. Hayes contends that it was Mr. Komisarjevsky who turned what was to be a reckless robbery into something else.
  99. blame
    an accusation that one is responsible for some misdeed
    September 15, 2010
    Connecticut Triple-Murder Trial Begins
    Connecticut Triple-Murder Trial Begins
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    Steven Hayes’s lawyer blamed the other defendant for the escalation of violence in the Cheshire, Conn., robbery of the family of Dr. William Petit Jr.
    September 14, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS, CHESHIRE (CONN), HAYES, STEPHEN J, KOMISARJEVSKY, JOSHUA

    William Petit Poses Challenge to Defense Lawyers
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    Dr. Willia...
  100. apprehend
    anticipate with dread or anxiety
    They were quickly apprehended.
  101. arrest
    take into custody
    And word that the two suspects arrested at the scene were both convicted felons out on parole led to new questions being raised about the state's methods of tracking parolees.
  102. scene
    the place where some action occurs
    Report an Error
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    Petit Family Killings

    Updated: Sept. 14, 2010

    As a police officer approached the home of the Petit family in Cheshire, Conn., on the morning of July 23, 2007, two men ran from the scene as flames poured out of the house.
  103. robber
    a thief who steals from someone by threatening violence
    Dr. Petit testified on the second day of the trial, describing his desperate attempt to get help after hearing one of the robbers say it was "all going to be over in a couple of minutes.''
  104. detective
    a police officer who investigates crimes
    September 23, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS, SEX CRIMES, CHESHIRE (CONN), NEW HAVEN (CONN), KOMISARJEVSKY, JOSHUA, HAWKE-PETIT, JENNIFER, PETIT, MICHAELA, PETIT, WILLIAM A JR, HAYES, STEVEN J

    Account Given of Cheshire Triple Murder
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    A State Police detective told a riveted courtroom the details of a suspect’s confession after his arrest in the Cheshire, Conn., home invasion that left a woman and her two daughters dead.
  105. severely
    to a severe or serious degree
    When officers returned to the house they found Dr. William A. Petit Jr., 50; who had been severely beaten, and the bodies of his wife, Jennifer Hawke-Petit, 48; and their daughters, Hayley, 17, and Michaela, 11.
  106. search
    look or seek
    July 22, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: PRISONS AND PRISONERS, MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS, BOOKS AND LITERATURE, LIBRARIES AND LIBRARIANS, CHESHIRE (CONN), HAYES, STEPHEN J

    SEARCH 64 ARTICLES ABOUT THE PETIT FAMILY:
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  107. jail
    a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
    September 19, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS, CHESHIRE (CONN), HAWKE-PETIT, JENNIFER, PETIT, MICHAELA, PETIT, WILLIAM A JR, PETIT, HAYLEY, HAYES, STEVEN J

    Testimony Is Suspended in Connecticut Murder Trial
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    Word that the man accused, Steven J. Hayes, had had a seizure in jail led the judge in the Connecticut case to send jurors home until Monday.
  108. suspend
    bar temporarily
    September 19, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS, CHESHIRE (CONN), HAWKE-PETIT, JENNIFER, PETIT, MICHAELA, PETIT, WILLIAM A JR, PETIT, HAYLEY, HAYES, STEVEN J

    Testimony Is Suspended in Connecticut Murder Trial
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    Word that the man accused, Steven J. Hayes, had had a seizure in jail led the judge in the Connecticut case to send jurors home until Monday.
  109. convict
    find or declare guilty
    And word that the two suspects arrested at the scene were both convicted felons out on parole led to new questions being raised about the state's methods of tracking parolees.
  110. slain
    killed; `slain' is formal or literary as in "slain warriors"
    September 24, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: FIRES AND FIREFIGHTERS, CHESHIRE (CONN), HAYES, STEVEN J

    Connecticut Murder Defendant’s Text Messages Detailed
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    In the hours before three members of the Petit family were slain in a home invasion, the men accused in the case exchanged text messages that were revealed Thursday in court.
  111. proceedings
    (law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked
    Lawyer Called to Court Over Remarks to Media
    By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

    A judge on Monday ordered an attorney for one of two men charged with killing a mother and her two daughters in a 2007 home invasion to explain why he shouldn't face criminal contempt proceedings for speaking out about the case.
  112. jury
    a body of citizens sworn to give a verdict in a court of law
    September 27, 2010
    Cheshire Murder Jury Is Told Accelerant Was Used
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    A Connecticut fire marshal testified that a flammable liquid had been poured across the beds of the Petit sisters, who, along with their mother, died.
  113. criminal
    someone who has committed a punishable act
    Lawyer Called to Court Over Remarks to Media
    By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

    A judge on Monday ordered an attorney for one of two men charged with killing a mother and her two daughters in a 2007 home invasion to explain why he shouldn't face criminal contempt proceedings for speaking out about the case.
  114. conviction
    an unshakable belief in something without need for proof
    The capital murder charges could bring the death penalty upon conviction.
  115. court
    an assembly to conduct judicial business
    Hide
    Highlights from the Archives
    Suspects Face Jeers and Victims’ Family in New Haven
    By ALISON LEIGH COWAN and STACEY STOWE

    NEW HAVEN, Aug. 7 — With roughly a dozen members of the Petit family sitting grimly in the front two rows, the two parolees accused of murdering three of their relatives during a brutal home invasion last month in Cheshire appeared in court on Tuesday under intense security.
  116. guilty
    responsible for or chargeable with wrongdoing
    If he is found guilty, a second portion of the trial would determine if he will be sentenced to death.
  117. die
    lose all bodily functions necessary to sustain life
    His grandfather, Theodore Komisarjevsky, who died in 1954, was a celebrated theatrical figure in Russia before the Bolshevik Revolution, and his grandmother, Ernestine Stodelle, was a prominent modern dancer.
  118. slay
    kill intentionally and with premeditation
    September 24, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: FIRES AND FIREFIGHTERS, CHESHIRE (CONN), HAYES, STEVEN J

    Connecticut Murder Defendant’s Text Messages Detailed
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    In the hours before three members of the Petit family were slain in a home invasion, the men accused in the case exchanged text messages that were revealed Thursday in court.
  119. government
    the system or form by which a community is ruled
    Adobe Government Sol.
    Learn How Adobe Technologies are Improving Government Transparency
    www.Adobe.com/Government
  120. blood
    the fluid that is pumped through the body by the heart
    He mentioned his hemoglobin level before the crime and compared it with the count taken after, when he was treated for multiple head wounds and extensive blood loss.
  121. cruel
    able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
    August 8, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS, CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, CHESHIRE (CONN), HAYES, STEPHEN J

    Cheshire Killings Defendant Challenges Death Penalty
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    A lawyer for a defendant in the notorious Cheshire triple-murder case argued that a legislative move to eliminate the death penalty showed that under “an evolving standard of decency,” capital punishment is now viewed as cruel and unusual.
  122. literary
    relating to or characteristic of creative writing
    July 28, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS, CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, CHESHIRE (CONN), DEATH PENALTY INFORMATION CENTER, CULLIGAN, PATRICK, HAYES, STEPHEN J

    Prison Books Bring Twist to Connecticut Killings
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    Defense lawyers are suggesting that a prison librarian gave Steven Hayes a literary blueprint for the murders.
  123. legal
    established by or founded upon law or official rules
    The trial has been described as a test of the legal system and of the death penalty.
  124. proceeding
    a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked
    Lawyer Called to Court Over Remarks to Media
    By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

    A judge on Monday ordered an attorney for one of two men charged with killing a mother and her two daughters in a 2007 home invasion to explain why he shouldn't face criminal contempt proceedings for speaking out about the case.
  125. violence
    a turbulent state resulting in injuries and destruction
    September 15, 2010
    Connecticut Triple-Murder Trial Begins
    Connecticut Triple-Murder Trial Begins
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    Steven Hayes’s lawyer blamed the other defendant for the escalation of violence in the Cheshire, Conn., robbery of the family of Dr. William Petit Jr.
    September 14, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS, CHESHIRE (CONN), HAYES, STEPHEN J, KOMISARJEVSKY, JOSHUA

    William Petit Poses Challenge to Defense Lawyers
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    Dr. Willia...
  126. horror
    intense and profound fear
    August 8, 2007nyregionNews
    When Horror Came to a Connecticut Family
    By MANNY FERNANDEZ and ALISON LEIGH COWAN

    The Petit household in Cheshire, Conn., was the site of one of the most savage crimes in the state in decades.
  127. liberal
    showing or characterized by broad-mindedness
    Liberal Groups Planning to Rally on National Mall
    4.
  128. burning
    a process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to give heat and light
    September 17, 2010
    MORE ON THE PETIT FAMILY AND: MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS, CHESHIRE (CONN), HAWKE-PETIT, JENNIFER, ULLMANN, THOMAS J, BLUE, JON C, HAYES, STEVEN J

    Testimony on Finding Victims of Triple Killing
    Testimony on Finding Victims of Triple Killing
    By WILLIAM GLABERSON

    A police lieutenant and two firefighters testified about entering a burning home in Cheshire three years ago.
Created on Tue Sep 28 00:27:44 EDT 2010

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