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Alternate Komisarjevsky Juror Is Excused After Learning Gruesome Details of Case

Another alternate juror is selected in her place.

The alternate juror who begged to be excused from serving on the jury for the Joshua Komisarjevsky trial was released from her obligation Thursday by Superior Court Judge Jon C. Blue in New Haven.

But defense lawyers and prosecutors also selected another alternate juror to take her place, according to sources in the New Haven courthouse.

A 35-year-old Wallingford woman was chosen as alternate juror number four on May 26. But the New Haven Register reported she returned to court later that day and tearfully asked the judge to excuse her from serving on the jury.

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Instead, Judge Blue directed her to return today for additional questioning.

Courthouse sources said the woman did return today and still insisted that she could not be a fair and impartial juror for Komisarjevsky, so the judge excused her.

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Komisarjevsky faces the death penalty for the Cheshire home invasion triple homicide in which Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her two daughters, Hayley, 17, and Michaela, 11, were killed.

Police said Komisarjevsky sexually assaulted Michaela during the home invasion ordeal. The Wallingford woman said she has an eight-year-old daughter.

The new alternate juror chosen today is a 36-year-old man from New Haven who works as a case worker for the state Department of Children and Families.

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