Sole survivor witness to hear testimony

New Haven, Conn. (WTNH) - The sole survivor of the deadly Cheshire home invasion will be allowed to sit in court and listen to testimony even before he takes the stand.

Dr. William Petit is planning to testify in the July 2007 killings of his wife Jennifer Hawke Petit and their daughters Hayley and Michaela.

He was viciously beaten and tied up but managed to escape and make it  to a neighbor's house when his home was set on fire.

The operator handling the initial 9-1-1 calls will be among the first to take the stand, as the trial for accused killer Steven Hayes gets underway.

Other early witnesses are police officers first on scene, as well as the manager from the bank where Jennifer Hawke Petit was forced to withdraw money in an effort to save her family.

Normally witnesses are not allowed in the courtroom before they testify. However, both prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed to allow Dr Petit to sit in on the early stages of the trial and hear those witnesses.

Steven Hayes and Joshua Komisarjevsky are charged in the killings and both face the death penalty if convicted.

Hayes is first to go on trial beginning 10 a.m. Monday, September 13.

It is expected there will be a large group of Petit family members present for the start of the trial.

It is unknown if anyone will be in court for the accused Steven Hayes.