Triple Murderer's Case Tests Connecticut's Death Penalty Repeal: Alaine Griffin of The Hartford Courant reports the case of triple murderer Richard Roszkowski is challenging the provision of Connecticut's recent death penalty repeal legislation that abolishes the death penalty for future capital crimes committed in the state but allows those who committed capital crimes before the repeal to be executed. Roszkowski was convicted and sentenced to death in 2009 for the murders of his ex-girlfriend, her 9-year-old daughter, and his former roommate in 2006. A judge dismissed his death sentence due to an error in jury instructions, and ordered a new penalty phase trial, which was scheduled to start in June. Michael Courtney, head of the state Public Defender's Office capital defense unit, said his unit would file a motion to prevent the death penalty from being considered in Roszkowski's case. He also said he wanted to get the case in front of the state Supreme Court to deal with the constitutionality of the prospective provision of the state's new law and of capital punishment. Courtney said his office would filed a brief by August 7.