Death Penalty for Hayes

Citing the Book of Timothy, William Petit said justice was served. Citing Mahatma Gandhi, the attorney for Steven Hayes said no one deserves to be put to death.

Those dueling quotations were spoken outside the courthouse on Church Street Monday afternoon as a wrenching legal drama came to a close, for now.

It ended as Hayes was sentenced to die for his role in the 2007 murders of Petit’s wife Jennifer Hawke-Petit, and his daughters Hayley and Michaela at their Cheshire home in a particularly brutal attack that riveted the attention of the region. Petit survived the attack, while his immediate family was murdered.

Hayes was found guilty a month ago. The jury deliberated through the weekend and determined that he deserves to be put to death for his crimes.

“He’s thrilled. He’s very happy with the verdict,” Hayes’ attorney, public defender Thomas Ullman, said to reporters on the steps of the courthouse. Hayes, who has attempted suicide, welcomes the death sentence, Ullmann said.

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