Steven Hayes Found Guilty on 16 of 17 Charges

Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her daughters, Hayley, 17, and Michaela, 11, were found dead in their burning Cheshire home in 2007.

Steven Hayes has been on trial in the case and the jury has begun deliberating to decide whether he is guilty on 17 charges in connection with the triple fatal home invasion.

Hayes is the first of two suspects to stand trial in the case and he is charged with.

1. Guilty: Felony murder of Jennifer Hawke-Petit.
2. Guilty: Felony murder of Hayley Petit, 17.
3. Guilty: Felony murder of Michaela, 11.
4. Guilty: Felony murder, multiple victims. A guilty finding could mean the death penalty sentence.
5. Guilty: Murder of a victim under 16-years-old in connection with the murder of 1 Michaela. A guilty finding could mean the death penalty sentence.
6. Guilty: First-degree kidnapping of Dr. William Petit
7. Guilty: First-degree kidnapping of Jennifer
8. Guilty: First-degree kidnapping of Hayley
9. Guilty: First-degree kidnapping of Michaela
10. Guilty: Murder during the course of kidnapping Jennifer. A guilty finding could mean the death penalty sentence.
11. Guilty: Murder during the course of kidnapping Hayley. A guilty finding could mean the death penalty sentence.
12. Guilty: Murder during the course of kidnapping Michaela. A guilty finding could mean the death penalty sentence.
13. Guilty: Sex-1 use of threat or force against Jennifer Hawke-Petit
14. Guilty: Murder, victim of sex assault 1, in the slaying of Jennifer Hawke Petit. A guilty finding could mean the death penalty sentence.
15. Guilty: Third-degree burglary of the Petit home.
16. Not guilty: First-degree felony arson of the Petit home.
17. Guilty: Second-degree assault of Dr. William Petit. The charges accused Hayes of meaning to intend to hurt Dr. Petit with a dangerous instrument, namely a bat, and aiding the other suspect in hurting the doctor.

If Hayes is found guilty of one of six capital felony charges, he could face the death penalty.

In the murder of Hayley Petit, Judge John Blue told the jury that whether they think Hayes was the principal or accessory, he's still to be found guilty.

To find Hayes guilty of murder, victim of sex assault 1, the jury would have to determine that the state proved that Hayes sexually assaulted the mother of two and murdered her immediately before, during or after the fact, the judge said.

A not guilty ruling would mean that the jury must consider the lesser charge of felony murder.

For Hayes to be found guilty of felony murder, multiple victims, the state would have to prove that the murders happened at the same time or that the murders happened as part of a plan.

The judge sent the jury to the deliberation room around 11:30 a.m.


READ EXCERPTS FROM THE CLOSING ARGUMENTS HERE


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