Karen Read’s trial for the alleged murder of Boston police officer John O’Keefe is set to begin next week after five days of jury selection. A jury of 16 will hear the case, which has drawn significant media attention and speculation. The defense has claimed that Read is being framed as part of a police coverup, while prosecutors are expected to present evidence to support their case that Read intentionally drove her car into O’Keefe while intoxicated. The trial is expected to last eight weeks.
Jury selection in the murder trial of Karen Read, a Massachusetts woman charged with killing her Boston police officer boyfriend in 2022, is set to continue on Wednesday. Read has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and other charges. The prosecution alleges that she struck her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, with her vehicle outside a home in Canton during a snowstorm following a night of drinking. The defense claims that O’Keefe was beaten inside the home, bitten by a dog, and left outside. As of Monday, 19 jurors have been seated, with the goal of selecting 20 so that up to four can be dismissed. The defense is challenging the constitutionality of the courtroom’s seating arrangements, arguing that they violate Read’s right to confrontation.
Turtleboy blogger Aidan Kearney has been indicted on eight counts of allegedly intimidating witnesses and various other charges related to his coverage of the Karen Read case. Kearney’s attorney claims that the charges are a violation of First Amendment rights, while the prosecution alleges that Kearney has engaged in witness intimidation and harassment through his blog and social media posts. The case highlights the tensions between freedom of speech and the protection of witnesses in high-profile criminal proceedings.
Jury selection in the murder trial of Karen Read resumed on Monday in Norfolk Superior Court. Sixteen jurors will ultimately be selected, with four designated as alternates. Read, 44, is accused of backing her SUV into her boyfriend and leaving him for dead during a blizzard in Canton in 2022. She has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of personal injury or death. The trial is expected to last several weeks.
