By Randall Beach, Register Staff
rbeach@nhregister.com / Twitter: @rbeachnhr

NEW HAVEN — Joshua Komisarjevsky has written another letter from his prison cell to his New Haven pen pal, expressing bitterness and anger over receiving the death penalty in the Cheshire triple homicide.

Looking toward Jan. 27, when Superior Court Judge Jon C. Blue is scheduled to impose the death sentence decided upon by the jury, Komisarjevsky indicated he will deliver a statement in the courtroom.

“I have to go,” he wrote. “I have a responsibility to be there. I have something I need to say.”

The recipient of the letter, who provided a copy to the New Haven Register, asked that his name not be used because he fears for his safety. The Cheshire home invasion and the resulting two trials have drawn strong feelings from the public.

Steven Hayes of Winsted received the death penalty in 2010. Komisarjevsky’s jury made its decision last December, after a two-phase, three-month trial.

Komisarjevsky was found guilty on all 17 counts, including murder, first-degree arson and sexual assault, in the July 2007 break-in. The two men entered the home of Dr. William Petit Jr. and Jennifer Hawke-Petit in the middle of the night and tied up Petit after Komisarjevsky assaulted him with a baseball bat.

The invaders then tied up Hawke-Petit and her daughters, Michaela, 11, and Hayley, 17. Hayes later raped and strangled Hawke-Petit, then the house was set on fire after having been doused with gasoline. The two girls, still upstairs tied to their beds, died of smoke inhalation. Petit untied himself and escaped from the basement to seek help shortly before the fire erupted.

Komisarjevsky admitted choosing the house, but has maintained Hayes escalated the violence and struck the match. However, prosecutors noted Komisarjevsky initiated the violence by attacking Petit and that Komisarjevsky had many chances to save the victims.

“I didn’t kill anyone,” he wrote in the letter. “I didn’t want those innocent women killed, nor did I rape anyone and yet they want me dead. I don’t need 12 people or 10 million people who weren’t there to tell me what I’m guilty of.”

Komisarjevsky began the letter by referring to the “brutal trial.” He added, “I have been condemned to die by a society that finds me to be worthless (sigh). I’ve been excommunicated yet again, except this time it’s not just the church, it’s the world.” Continued...

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Komisarjevsky was kicked out of a church in New Hampshire when he was a teenager because he committed petty crimes such as breaking into residences.

“How far out will the ripples of this tragedy reverberate?” Komisarjevsky wrote. “How many more should die? How many more lives broken? Killing me doesn’t hurt me — I’ll be dead, what do the dead feel? The only ones they’re hurting are my family, friends and loved ones.”

Recalling newspaper photos of “the rejoicing” after the jury’s decision, Komisarjevsky said it was “sad.” He added, “the looks on some of their faces reminds me of the look on Steaver’s (Hayes’) face just after strangling Jennifer.”

“What am I supposed to do with that image?” he asked. “How the hell do I contextualize that?”

In a clear reference to the death penalty, Komisarjevsky wrote, “Killing another human being is OK as long as we have unanimous support for the decision.”

He noted he is now at Northern Correctional Institution in Somers, where he was transferred immediately after the trial ended. He said he was transported there “under tighter than usual security, much to the annoyance of all the other motorists on the streets and highways.”

“I’ve been in an ‘observation’ cell ever since,” he wrote. “I’m still waiting to be moved down the corridor to Death Row.”

He complained he has had trouble receiving supplies, such as envelopes, art materials and books. He enjoys reading and drawing.

Komisarjevsky concluded the two-page letter by telling his correspondent he would look for him in the courtroom at the sentencing. Then he said he intends to take advantage of the opportunity all defendants are given to make a statement. He chose not to testify during the trial.

He signed off the letter, “carpe diem, my friend.” That’s Latin for “seize the day.” Continued...

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Call Randall Beach at 203-789-5766. To receive breaking news first, text the word NHNEWS to 22700. *Msg + data rates may apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.

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