Judge Imposes Death Sentences on Hayes

Judge Jon Blue Thursday imposed six consecutive death sentences on Steven Hayes.

Each death sentence was for each of the six capital counts against Hayes for his role in the July 2007 murders of Jennifer Hawke-Petit, and her daughters Hayley, 17, and Michaela, 11.

Judge Blue also sentenced Hayes to 106 years in prison for the remaining non-capital counts.

The formal sentencing came after an emotional morning of victim impact statements, as well as a statement from Hayes in court, the first time he has made a public statement since the murders.

Dr. William Petit, the sole survivor of the attack that took the lives of his family, talked about how his life will never be the same.

"The impact of these crimes is like a bomb going off in your  house," Petit told the courtroom. "I've seriously considered suicide many time - no wife, no children, no home and no interest in life in general."

Petit was hit on the head with a baseball bat, tied up and left in the basement, while Hayes, and his alleged co-conspirator, sexually assaulted, and then murdered his family upstairs in their home.

Testimony during Hayes' trial showed he strangled Hawke-Petit to death after raping her. Hayley and Michaela were still alive, tied to their beds when the home was set on fire.

Petit talked about his life with his wife and children before the attack. He described Jennifer as his best friend, told the court Hayley was a hard worker who never got mad, and Michaela who loved to sing and loved animals.

He broke down several times during his statement. "I grieve because she never got to love someone for a long time," Petit said of his daughter Hayley. He called his oldest daughter his hero.

"I lost my entire family. I lost record of our shared lives together due to the fire, thus I lost my past and my future."

Petit's father and sister also spoke in court, and Jennifer Hawke-Petit's sister, Cynthia Hawke-Renn submitted a videotaped statement, because she could not make the trip to Connecticut from her home in North Carolina for the sentencing.

After Petit finished, it was time for the defense lawyers to make a brief statement.

Then convicted murderer Steven Hayes stood to address the court for the first time since he was arrested moments after fleeing the Petit home in July 2007.

"I am deeply sorry for the pain I caused. I'm sorry for my actions," Hayes said. "A murderer is not the real Steven Hayes."

He went on to offer a motive for his crimes. "Even though I was not high when I committed these crimes, drugs was the motivation. I know what I did and I live with it everyday. I'm tormented."

With that, Judge Blue imposed six consecutive death sentences on Hayes.

The Petit and Hawke families did not speak outside of court after the sentencing.

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