The man sentenced last month to death for his role in the murders of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her daughters asked for a new trial on the guilty-not guilty phase and a judge denied his appeals on Wednesday.
Joshua Komisarjevsky argued that he didn't get a fair trial in New Haven because the case was so well known in the greater New Haven area.
Judge Jon Blue denied several motions in court on Wednesday, including the request for a new trial and reversing the death sentence the jury handed down.
The defense team had requested a change of venue before the murder trial got began, but the request was denied. Komisarjevsky’s attorneys said that infringed on their client’s constitutional rights for a fair trial.
In October, the same jury convicted Komisarjevsky of killing Hawke-Petit and her daughters, Hayley, 17, and Michaela, 11 during a home invasion of the Petits' home in July 2007.
A different jury sentenced Komisarjevsky's co-defendant, Steven Hayes, to death last year for his role in the crimes.
Formal sentencing for Komisarjevsky is scheduled for Jan. 27 at 10 a.m.
