Hayes trial in Cheshire home invasion set to begin Monday

New Haven, Conn. (WTNH) - It's been a long time coming, and on Monday the trial of Cheshire home invasion suspect Steven Hayes is expected to begin.

There has been intense media coverage of the Cheshire home invasion, which occurred in July of 2007, but as the trial of suspect Steven Hayes begins there is one story we will hear for the first time -- what Dr. William Petit saw and heard.

Petit will testifiy about being beaten and left for dead, and the killings of his wife Jennifer Hawke-Petit and daughters Hayley and Michaela.

When asked last month about taking the stand, Dr. Petit said he would "try and think about doing the right thing and testify about what happened, being the face of my family since they can't be here to represent themselves."

It's unclear how defense lawyers will handle Petit on the stand. Former Chef State's Attorney Christopher Morano expects they will tread lightly.

"If they are overbearing on a victim such as Mr. Petit, they might win a legal battle but they could lose the heart of the jury so that's a very tough path," Morano said.

Morano knows all about high profile cases, having prosecuted Michael Skakel, who was convicted of killing Martha Moxley of Greenwich. Morano says lawyers have shut out all the media coverage during the trial and focus on making the case to the jury.

In this case its likely to include graphic photos from inside the Petit home.

"The prosecutor is entitled to present those photos if they are relevant to the crime being charged and in most cases that means most of those photos are going to get in," Morano said.

Hayes trial is expected to last more than two months.

However, it is possible the trial could be delayed. Late Friday Attorney Jeremiah Donovan, the lawyer for Joshua Komisarjevsky, the other man charged in the Cheshire murders confirms he has filed a motion on behalf of his client to bar Petit from being inside the courtroom for the Hayes trial. Donovan says to be in the courtroom for all the testimony could  "make his independent recollection less accurate." Donovan also said while Hayes lawyers have agreed to allow Petit inside, Donovan says they have made no such agreement and will ask the judge to sequester Petit during the Hayes trial, meaning he could not be in courtroom except when he testifies.

News 8 will have extensive coverage from inside the courtroom and out during the trial.