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Connecticut lawyers considering cost "defense" to hold off death sentence for multiple murderer

By Douglas A. Berman

A high-profile capital case in Connecticut, in which Steven Hayes has now been convicting in the murders of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her two daughters, has much of the northeast discussing and debating the death penalty.  And, as detailed in this local article, defense attorneys are adding another notable dimension to the debate: In their fight to persuade jurors to spare the life of Steven Hayes, his lawyers are considering an unusual strategy: citing economic reasons for keeping the convicted triple murderer off death row. Court papers outlining the defense plan and a possible motion by prosecutors requesting the use of unsworn victim-impact testimony ? allowed in sentencing proceedings in murder cases in Connecticut, but not during the penalty phases in capital cases ? would have to be made by 1 p...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on October 08, 2010 (boomark / email).