Man pleads not guilty in home invasion

The second of two men charged with killing a woman and her two daughters during a violent home invasion pleaded not guilty Thursday.

Steven Hayes, 44, of Winsted, pleaded not guilty to capital felony and murder, kidnapping, sexual assault and arson charges in connection with the killings.

Joshua Komisarjevsky, 27, of Cheshire, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to the same charges.

Hayes and Komisarjevsky have been held on $15 million bond each since they were arrested July 23.

Police said the two men took the Petit family hostage in their Cheshire home and then killed 48-year-old Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her daughters, Hayley, 17, and Michaela, 11.

Hawke-Petit, who was taken to a bank and forced to withdraw money during the ordeal, was strangled. The girls died from smoke inhalation after the family home was set ablaze.

The lone survivor, Dr. William Petit Jr., was badly beaten but managed to escape.

Hayes and Komisarjevsky were arrested as they tried to flee the scene, police said.

A law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Wednesday that officers delayed entering the home for as long as a half-hour after arriving. A person who made the 911 call from the bank where Hawke-Petit withdrew the money relayed the information that nobody would be hurt if police were not told the family was in danger, the official said.

As officers waited outside, the home erupted into flames.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because authorities have not discussed details of the case. It was not clear who made the call or who told that person the family would not be harmed if police weren't called.

Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty against Hayes and Komisarjevsky.

Hayes' attorney asked for a gag order that would prevent police, prosecutors and defense attorneys from talking to the media about the case. A hearing on that order is set for Tuesday.