Thomas Ullmann Speaks Out About Cheshire Murder Case

As jury selection continues for the second trial in the 2007 triple murder in Cheshire, the attorney who represented the first defendant is speaking out about his client’s case.  

Attorney Thomas Ullmann says zealous legal representation in all cases is a foundation of our criminal justice system.

"Its what differentiates our system of government and the protection of individual rights from many other countries."

Ullmann was counsel for Steven Hayes who was convicted and sentenced to death last year for his role in the brutal murders of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her two daughters.

Ullmann, a public defender, has experienced threats to his family because his work on the high-profile case.  He says its important that he speak out, "because there’s such vitriol out there in the public in terms of the feelings about this case. Defense lawyers don’t make judgments about whether someone looks like strong case or a weak case or somewhere in the middle, or actual innocence. We are there to protect that person’s rights. And I’m proud to say that in the state of Connecticut that we fully fund that effort."

Thomas Ullmann will talk about Steven Hayes’ case at 7:30 Thursday evening as part of the Perspectives series at the Jewish Community Center in New Haven. 

For WNPR, I'm Diane Orson.