NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Jury selection began today for the trial of a second Connecticut man accused of killing a mother and her two daughters in a brutal home invasion.

The mother who died, Jennifer Hawke-Petit, grew up in the Slippery Rock area and her parents still live there.

Judge Jon Blue told attorneys today before prospective jurors were brought into New Haven Superior Court that any who cry or panic when they learn the graphic nature of the case would be excused immediately.

Authorities say Joshua Komisarjevy and Steven Hayes killed Hawke-Petit and her daughters, 11-year-old Michaela and 17-year-old Hayley, in their Cheshire home in 2007.

Blue said he’ll consider later a defense bid for Komisarjevsky to plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence.

Hayes was sentenced to death last year.