Joshua Komisarjevsky

On July 23, 2007, Joshua Komisarjevsky and co-defendant Steven Hayes were arrested following a home invasion that resulted in the death of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her two daughters. 

Joshua's codefendant Steven Hayes has admitted the rape and murder of Mrs Hawke-Petit, and is known to have purchased the gasoline to start the housefire which resulted in the death of her daughters. He was sentenced to death in December 2010 in a separate trial.

Although the charges against Joshua are extremely serious, the case for death penalty is far from clear  Joshua was cooperative with the police, explaining that he never intended anyone to die, and there is no proof as to his involvement in the arson. 

The case has gathered extensive media attention, especially during Steven Hayes’ trial, and the defense requested a change of venue after unprecedented levels of prejudice and recognition were recorded. 

In a survey of the jury pool, 99.5 percent recognized the case – the highest of any known case ever surveyed – including the Oklahoma City Bombing case.  85.3 percent of the pool believed that Joshua was definitely or probably guilty.  The motion was denied and Joshua is due to stand trial before the same judge and a jury from the same district early next week.

A local newspaper filed a motion to have the witness list for Joshua’s trial revealed. The motion was granted by Judge Blue, before being denied by the State Supreme Court that found such a release potentially harmful to Mr Komisarjevsky’s defence. 

Joshua’s father is the son of a famous Russian theatre director, Theodore (Fyodor) Komisarjevsky. Before moving to the United States in the 1940s, he travelled extensively and directed plays in every corner of Europe. He has lived in Germany, France, Italy and England, where he obtained British nationality. His first daughter was born in London.