Volume 92, Issue 4 | September 28, 2011
the
Charger Bulletin The official student newspaper of the University of New Haven since 1938.
www.ChargerBulletin.com
Second Connecticut Home Invasion By VERONICA MACIEL STAFF WRITER
–––––––––––––––––––––––––– It all started July 27, 2007; several people’s lives were forever changed on that day. In Cheshire, Connecticut, the Petit family home was invaded, and three people were murdered: Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her daughters, Hayley Petit, and Michaela Petit. The two men that police deemed responsible for this crime are former burglary parolees, Steven Hayes and Joshua Komisarjevsky. The day before the invasion, Komisarjevsky followed Jennifer Hawke-Petit and Michaela Petit home from the grocery store. The two men entered the house between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. on July 27 through the unlocked basement door. Once inside, Komisarjevsky caused Dr. Petit to become unconscious by hitting him over the head with a bat until he “finally backed up into a corner of the couch” and “quieted down” as the defendant had said. Proceeding to go upstairs, Komisarjevsky tied up the girls and Hayes took HawkePetit to the bank to withdraw the $15,000 that the two men intended to split between themselves. According to Fox News, once Hayes returned with the money and Hawke-Petit, he raped and strangled her before dousing the house in gasoline and lighting a
Trial
match, “to get rid of DNA evidence,” as Komisarjevsky said, quoting Hayes. After watching the fire start, Komisarjevsky got into the driver’s side of the family vehicle, with Hayes in the passenger’s side, and drove off into the cop cars that were just down the street from the house. The Petit girls had pillowcases over their heads and died of smoke inhalation. At some point during the whole ordeal, Dr. Petit had escaped from the basement to the neighbor’s house to call 911. On October 5 of last year, Steven Hayes, one man deemed responsible for the crime, was convicted on 16 out of 17 charges. Hayes was sentenced to death; the only charge he was acquitted of was arson in the second degree. This past Monday, September 19, the second home invasion trial began. Joshua Komisarjevsky faces multiple charges for the murders of the three Petit women. He is charged with three counts of murder, six counts of capital murder, four counts of
kidnapping, one count of burglary in the third degree, sexual assault in the first degree, assault in the second degree, and arson in the second degree— Hayes and Komisarjevsky were brought up on the same charges.
By CHRISTOPHER WHALEN STAFF WRITER
–––––––––––––––––––––––––– I’m sure you’ve heard this many times, but getting an internship is essential to college and career success. Internships are a great tool to show potential employers that your head wasn’t just buried in books for four years. Getting hands on experience in your field will show you can apply your skills outside of a standardized test. In my college career, I will have had two internships. In the summer of 2010, I interned for MasterCard Worldwide, the heart of commerce. This was an informative peak into the corporate world. Currently, I have an internship at Connex Credit Union based out of North Haven, CT. With Connex, I am the Vice President of Unbanking. I represent Connex in the community, run their social media initiatives, and promote the benefits of credit unions over banks. I sit in marketing team meetings and help brainstorm events and plans. I communicate the message of “Unbanking” through Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and blogging. So far the most rewarding part of the job has been getting to know
people in the community at Connex events. I have learned a lot from my previous and current internship about the application process, how to interview well, and how to thrive in your position. I want to share with you what I believe the secrets to landing your dream internship are. Be Professional – It is important to be professional from the start. The first thing you should be aware of is your resume. Even if you don’t have much to put on it, be professional and honest. I’ve seen some of the most unprofessional e-mails be submitted on job applications and resumes. Potential employers will see a ridiculous e-mail and not even look at the rest of your resume. Dressing appropriately is also important. I’ve actually seen people go to interviews in jeans! Be Passionate – When looking for potential internships make sure you’re passionate about the position and the place. In the end, you want to have an engaging experience that was exciting and educational. If you are just applying for the sake of applying, what are you going to get out of the internship? ComSee INTERNSHIP page 7
is disturbing, because in America the standard is innocent until –––––––––––––––––––––––––– proven guilty beyond any reasonable doubt. Many politicians Twenty years after his con- including Jimmy Carter, human viction for the murder of a police rights ministers from other counofficer in 1989, Troy Davis was tries and even the Pope himself executed by the State of Georgia have expressed their lack of late last Wednesday night. belief in Davis’ guilt, and they The issue of capital punish- helped rally to save his life right By ANA ABRAHAM STAFF WRITER
AP PHOTO
In court that first day, the defense, specifically Walter C. Bansley, called the supporters of the Petit family the “Petit Posse” and claimed they needed to take the Petit Family Foundation pins off because he believed they may sway the jury in an unfair way not related to the facts of the case. The Superior Court Judge, John C. Blue, overruled this objection and continued the trial with the Petit Pins still present, See INVASION page 5
DON’T FORGET This newspaper is recyclable! Tips for Landing and Having a Successful Internship
Troy Davis: Justice or Martyrdom?
ment has long been a catalyst for very heated debates, and Davis’ case is no different. Officer Mark MacPhail was murdered, without a doubt. But ever since the Troy Davis’ murder trial, there has been significant doubt of his guilt. Over the twenty years Davis spent on death row, he was granted four separate stays of execution. According to ABC news, Davis’ innocence was never proven, but according to some, neither was his guilt. This
AP PHOTO
up until the end. Former President Carter called personally for clemency, which is a request for mercy for the condemned. At the eleventh hour, however, mercy was denied. Davis was scheduled to be executed at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday the 21, but the Supreme Court spent an extra few hours debating another stay of execution to allow for the possibility
See TROY DAVIS page 6
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UNH Forensic Botanist Sets Up National Databank For Marijuana DNA
ment to collect samples from a crime scene and evaluate the –––––––––––––––––––––––––– DNA profile against a computerized database of samples to asWEST HAVEN, CONN. sist in the identification of sus-- A University of New Haven pects in a crime. forensic scientist is setting up “Such a databank and signaa national databank for mari- ture mark would be a welcome juana DNA that will permit law tool for police and law enforceenforcement to track where the drug originated when an arrest is made. Heather Miller Coyle, an associate professor in the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences, is a forensic botanist. She also has developed a new method for collecting the marijuana‘s genetic fingerprint that makes it easy for law enforcement on the scene of a case to collect the samples. The DNA mapping initiative will allow law enforcement personnel for the first time to track where marijuana came from and link it to criminal organizations such as drug trafficking organi- ment agencies,” said Frank Lizations in Mexico, growers in mon, New Haven chief of poCanada or gangs in the United lice. “It’s probable, in some States. cases, that conspirators of the The database would be simi- overall operation may escape lar to the one run by the FBI for investigation and prosecution. humans. That database, called The link between production CODIS, or Combined DNA In- and distribution would aid us dex System, allows law enforce- in establishing conspiracy cases By KAREN GRAVA UNH TODAY
against the whole operation – not just the dealers and buyers. This would effectively connect the dots to street level narcotics distribution.” The marijuana database Coyle is developing would give police an investigative lead to trace the origin of the marijuana and help
AP PHOTO
lead to the human sources for its distribution. “Plant DNA is like the DNA found in humans – it retains its lifelong genetic profile,” says Coyle, whose work on the project included UNH students Lindsay Allgeier, Jennifer Nabozny, and See MARIJUANA page 7