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Judge Makes Key Ruling In Conn. Home Invasion Case

NEW HAVEN, CT (AP / WCBS 880) - A Connecticut judge has ruled that a statement allegedly made to authorities by a man charged in the home invasion killings of a woman and her two daughters can be used as evidence at his trial.

LISTEN: WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau reports

New Haven Superior Court Judge Jon Blue rejected a motion by Steven Hayes' lawyers to throw out the statement Wednesday.

Hayes' lawyers argued that the failure to electronically record Hayes' statement in a death penalty prosecution violates his due process rights.

Hayes' trial is scheduled to start next month. He and another man awaiting trial, Joshua Komisarjevsky, face the possibility of the death penalty if convicted.

Also Wednesday, Blue excused a juror in Hayes' trial who cited financial hardship. An alternate juror was appointed to fill the spot.

(TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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