BY Katie
Rohner |
SEP 26, 2010 2:03 PM
Jeremiah Donovan
shared this sentiment on Friday with the press. “Probably”
turned out to be an understatement.
Donovan is the lawyer
who will represent Joshua Komisarjevsky when he is tried for his role in the
Donovan made that
statement outside the
Hayes is on trial for
capital felony murder, arson, kidnapping, sexual assault, and other charges.
Komisarjevsky will face the same charges next year.
On Friday, DNA
experts and a fire marshal gave dramatic testimony during day seven of the Hayes
trial. Forensic scientist John Schienman, discussed how
DNA is analyzed to find consistencies in blood and seminal fluids taken from
crime suspects and victims. He found DNA matching William Petit’s profile in
blood samples taken from Komisarjevsky’s sweatshirt, the Petit basement, the garage floor of their neighbor, and a
Louisville Slugger baseball bat. Petit was beaten with the bat and tied to a
basement pole during most of the ordeal. Hayes was found to be a “contributor”
in a DNA sample taken from a vaginal swab of Jenniifer Hawke-Petit. He is
accused of raping her.
Dononvan was
concerned about the finding that Komisarjevsky was a contributor to DNA found on
an anal swab of Michaela.
Donovan, a well-respected former federal prosecutor
who once argued for the abolishment of the insanity defense, now defends those accused of crimes. He sits in
Courtroom 6A every day observing testimony and taking notes, During the
lunchtime break on Friday, he held an impromptu press conference on the
courthouse steps to clear up the “mistaken impression” he felt the Petit family
had about the true nature of Komisarjevsky’s sexual assault on 11-year-old
Michaela. His extraordinary statement, which is premised on a detailed
confession that “Josh” gave police on July 23, 2007, not only angered the Petit
family and, seemingly, the lawyers on both sides of the Hayes case; it also
mystified journalists, and appeared to violate a court-imposed gag order
prohibiting such communications.
Petit, the lone
survivor of the 2007 attack, and his sister, Johanna Petit Chapman, were huddled
outside the courtroom consulting with former federal prosecutor and current
Quinnipiac law professor Jeffrey Meyer, who is advising the family. Chapman
accused Donovan of trying the case on the courthouse steps and said he should be
held in contempt of the gag order. Donovan did give the impression that he was
offering “evidence” of Komisarjevsky’s statement made to police the day he was
arrested. However, Komisarjevsky’s statement has yet to be substantiated
by a witness—namely the detective who took the statement—and subjected to
cross-examination in a court of law, because he hasn’t been tried yet. As it
stands, it is still a potentially unreliable, possibly self-serving confession
that qualifies only as hearsay when offered by Donovan to courthouse
reporters.
Donovan claimed that
Komisarjevsky’s statement was corroborated by some of the witnesses in the Hayes
trial. Not only is that an inaccurate statement—whether Michaela was anally
raped was not confirmed either way—but he appeared to be refuting evidence and
manipulating testimony given by experts in the Hayes trial to further the
interests of his client. Whether his statement was truly meant to comfort the
family (It is hard to imagine how it could) or he was acting as a zealous
advocate, his action could get him into trouble.
Donovan acknowledged
that he is subject to the gag order that was imposed by Judge Roland Fasano
nearly three years ago with regard to the Hayes case, which the judge recently
extended to cover the Komisarjevsky trial as well. The gag order restricts
attorneys and parties in both cases from publicly disclosing or discussing the
cases. Fasano’s concern was (and remains) that pretrial publicity may prejudice
potential jurors or influence the outcome of the trial. Donovan said believed
his statement was not prohibited by the order.
Violations of court
orders qualify for criminal contempt sanctions. Donovan could face a penalty of
six months in prison or a fine of $500, or both, if Fasano or another party
files a complaint and he is found to have willfully violated the judge’s order.
He also may be found in violation of the Connecticut Rules of Professional
Responsibility, which provide sanctions for attorneys found to have engaged in
professional misconduct. Whether his statement will subject him to disciplinary
action by a statewide grievance committee, like a reprimand or worse, is not
clear, but a complaint could be filed.
Gruesome evidence was
offered later Friday by Fire Marshal Paul Makuc that Michaela and Hayley Petit
were doused with an accelerant while tied to their beds. His testimony was
interrupted by the sound of Three Dog Night’s “Joy to the World” coming from a
cell phone. It was Donovan’s cell phone; he was swiftly ejected from the
courtroom. That was bad luck for Donovan. The rest was bad
judgment.
Previous
installments of the Petit Trial Court Diary:
• Day
One: Deceptive Calm
• Day
Two: It Was All About “The Girls”
• Day
Three: Defense Strategy Emerges: Spread The Blame
• Day
Four: Pieces Fall Into Place
• Day
Five: Numbers Tell A Story
• Day
Six: Suffering Takes Center Stage
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/petit_diary_day_7_/id_29643