Hamden Woman Chosen as Alternate Juror for Komisarjevsky Trial

Attorneys chose an alternate juror Thursday at the end of the ninth week of jury selection for the trial of Joshua Komisarjevsky, the second Cheshire home invasion defendant.

The alternate juror is a Hamden woman, according to a source knowledgeable about the Komisarjevsky jury selection.

Both sides also used peremptory challenges to dismiss jurors they thought might side against them during jury deliberations. That means the defense has used 34 challenges and prosecutors have used 29 challenges.

Each side gets a maximum of 40 peremptory challenges, which they can use to excuse jurors without stating a reason.

Most prospective jurors are dismissed for cause, usually because they are unable to serve for the entire lengthy trial, they say they are biased against the defendant or they oppose the death penalty.

Komisarjevsky faces the death penalty for his part in the 2007 home invasion and triple homicide of a doctor’s wife and two daughters in Cheshire.

Previously, the attorneys picked 12 regular jurors. On Monday, they picked an alternate juror, but the man returned Tuesday and asked to be excused for financial reasons.

Jury selection will resume on Monday. The trial is scheduled to begin in September.