Defense Attorney In Petit Murders Makes Another Unsuccessful Attempt At Mistrial
Oct. 3 2011, Published 2:00 p.m. ET
By Breaking Celebrity News Staff
The death penalty trial of triple murderer Joshua Komisarjevsky was delayed once again on Monday morning when his defense attorney appealed to the judge yet again for a mistrial, Breaking Celebrity News has learned.
The latest request by Komisarjevsky's legal team came after it was revealed that a jury member had been approached by a supporter of the Petit family last week, reported the Hartford Courant.
Superior Court Judge Jon C. Blue of the New Haven, Connecticut court denied the motion but warned spectators not to speak to the jury.
"Supporters from either side should not be approaching the jury," Blue told the court.
While the recent incident was "not catastrophic" and not grounds for a mistrial, explained the judge, he pledged to impose serious penalties if it happened again.
"I'll do what's necessary, including the banishment of those involved from the courtroom for the rest of the trial. I will be quite ruthless about it. So everyone stands on notice here," he said sternly.
Monday marked day ten of the trial of the second suspect in the Petit family murders, and prosecutors are expected to rest their case against 31-year-old Komisarjevsky by the end of the day.
As Breaking Celebrity News previously reported, Komisarjevsky is charged with 17 counts including murder, abduction and assault in the triple homicide of a mother and her two children, and the beating of their father.
The grisly case revolves around the seven-hour abduction of Dr. Will