Death penalty in Conn. Home Invasion !!

A Different View for Steven Hayes Jurors
December 2, 2010 - 11:07 AM | by: Laura Ingle
Early this morning, before the sun rose, a handful of jurors who sat on the jury in the Steven Hayes case got in their vehicles and drove to the New Haven Superior Courthouse to hear Judge Jon Blue formally impose their sentence of death for the convicted killer.

Four jurors arrived with members of the public and media to stand in line to secure their spot in the public seating section for today's proceedings inside Courtroom 6A. They are all sitting together as they have done before, except this time, they are in the public seating area in the fourth row instead of the jury box.

Juror Paula Calzetta said, "Being here, is like putting a period on the end of a sentence. I think it's going to be a difficult day for everyone, and for those of us who understand what the Petits went through, and Steven's brother went through." When I asked penalty phase foreman Ian Cassell why he came today, he told me, "I don't know. I asked myself that question while driving here in the dark. I don't have to be here. Not sure what it is, but I came."

Many reporters circled the jurors to talk with them today, to get their perspective of what this has been like. This is the first time many journalists can speak directly to the jurors since the penalty phase ended. Cassell described the months-long ordeal. "The closest thing I can relate it to is like a plane crash and surviving." Juror Joel Zemke, who was the foreman of the guilt phase said, "We thought it was important. A lot of people wanted to be here. We all just felt like we were a part of something bigger."

Juror Herbert Gram added, "I am here to see this to completion.
Obviously we are not here to contribute, we are here to watch."

The victim impact statements are expected to include a videotaped message from the sister of Jennifer Hawke-Petit, Cynthia Hawke-Renn, who can't be here today. Portions of her statement have been reported ahead of time including a message that will be delivered directly to Hayes. She reportedly says, "I used to have trust and faith in humanity and you have taken that as well. I used to feel safe in my bed at night as did my children and you have destroyed that also."

Hayes will have the opportunity to speak if he chooses to or have a statement from him read on his behalf. There are mixed emotions on that in the courtroom today. Some have said there is nothing Hayes could say that would move them in any way.

Calzetta says she wants to hear from Hayes. "Yes. I'd like to hear something. Anything. It was very difficult to get a read on him. Just to hear his voice. You can tell a lot from someone's voice." Calzetta said looking over at Hayes during the two phases of his case and trying to get a read on him through his eyes, "was like looking into two black holes. I tried to get a feel for him, but he just had nothing."