(NECN: Brian Burnell, New Haven, CT) – There was testimony Wednesday from Joshua Komisarjevsky's father as the killer's attorneys try to prove that it was sexual abuse and torture at the hands of a foster brother, the refusal by his very religious parents to get him professional help and other factors in his childhood that led Komisarjevsky to commit the murders of Jennifer Hawke-Petit, Michaela and Hayley.
Benedict Komisarjevsky told of Joshua's troubled youth, the worst of it starting when he was just four and was sexually abused and tortured by his 15-year-old foster brother. Though the teen was removed from the home when the abuse was uncovered, the family never got professional help for Joshua.
Later his parents learned Joshua and his younger sister, Naomi, had sexual contact but still no psychiatrist for the boy. He started sneaking out at night, not returning until dawn.
After a run in with the law in Cheshire, Joshua and his family moved to New Hampshire where he got into a Christian program for troubled teens called The Fold. Joshua was kicked out of that after he stole a jet ski and went for a joy ride.
In talking about his son's stint in the Army Reserve Benedict Komisarjevsky said Joshua did well. It was after he came home that things spiraled downward again.
Benedict Komisarjevsky will be on the stand again Thursday morning. Then we expect to hear from his adoptive mother, Jude Komisarjevsky.
