Judge rejects death penalty challenge

New Haven, Conn. (AP) - A Connecticut judge has rejected challenges to the death penalty by a man charged in a 2007 home invasion in which a mother and her two daughters were killed.

Lawyers for 47-year-old Steven Hayes argued that executions should no longer be permitted after the legislature's decision last year to abolish the death penalty, even though Gov. M. Jodi Rell vetoed the bill.

New Haven Judge Jon Blue rejected the argument Wednesday, saying the vote by the legislature was not enough to end the death penalty in Connecticut.

Twenty-nine-year-old Joshua Komisarjevsky (koh-mih-sar-JEV'-skee) also is charged in the case.

Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her daughters, 17-year-old Hayley and 11-year-old Michaela were killed.