TODD THIS RETRIAL, NEARLY A YEAR IN THE MAKING. KATIE AND DOUG. GOOD MORNING. IT CERTAINLY IS. AND IT WAS JUST A WEEK SHY OF THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF WHEN TRIAL ONE BEGAN. SO AFTER THREE WEEKS OF JURY SELECTION, A PANEL OF 18 PEOPLE WILL BE HERE AT NORFOLK SUPERIOR COURT TODAY TO HEAR OPENING STATEMENTS AS KAREN REED’S SECOND TRIAL BEGINS HERE. REED IS ACCUSED OF KILLING HER BOYFRIEND, BOSTON POLICE OFFICER JOHN O’KEEFE, ON JANUARY 29TH, 2022. PROSECUTORS SAY SHE BACKED INTO HIM WITH HER SUV AND LEFT HIM TO DIE IN A SNOWSTORM OUTSIDE OF A HOME IN CANTON. THE DEFENSE SAYS THAT SOMEONE ELSE KILLED O’KEEFE, AND THAT REED IS THE VICTIM OF A POLICE COVER UP. JUDGE BEVERLY CANNON HAS ALREADY ISSUED ONE ORDER BLOCKING DEFENSE ATTORNEYS FROM MENTIONING THIRD PARTY CULPRITS TODAY, BUT IT’S UNCLEAR IF THAT MEANS MENTIONING PEOPLE BY NAME OR THE OVERALL THIRD PARTY CULPRIT THEORY. KAREN REED’S FIRST TRIAL ENDED IN A MISTRIAL LAST YEAR. OPENING STATEMENTS ARE SET FOR 10:00 THIS MORNING, AND NEWS CENTER FIVE WILL CARRY THEM LIVE AS SOON AS THEY BEGIN. REPORTING LIVE AT NORFOLK SUPERIOR COURT I
Karen Read supporters assemble outside Massachusetts court in advance of her retrial
The second murder trial of Karen Read, the Massachusetts woman whose case has sparked a national debate on police accountability and won her legions of devoted fans, begins Tuesday.Based on the intense, ongoing interest in the case, Judge Beverly Cannone reinstated and expanded the buffer zone outside the courthouse. She said the jury from the first trial reported hearing demonstrators outside screaming and yelling during deliberations. The judge said the zone is necessary to prevent outside influence, interruption and distraction but protesters are challenging the order in court.One person appeared to be arrested by Massachusetts State Police outside the courthouse on Tuesday morning. The scene among most supporters is similar to a reunion, with people hugging one another and calling out their names.Ashlyn Wade, a Read supporter from Canton, where John O’Keefe was killed, said she was there to hopefully see Read cleared of charges.“I’m here for justice,” she said. “The murderer going to jail and Karen being exonerated — that would be justice.”Dennis Sweeney, dressed as the judge in the case and wearing a pink T-shirt emblazoned with the word “assassin.” which was inspired by Read’s defense team, said he returned for the second trial because: “Karen Read is factually innocent and we want her freed.”Read, 45, of Mansfield, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and other charges. The prosecution says she hit her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, with her vehicle outside of a home in Canton during a snowstorm on Jan. 29, 2022, following a night of drinking. Her defense team argued that someone else was responsible for killing O’Keefe.The defense centered on allegations of a cover-up involving members of several law enforcement agencies. They say O’Keefe was beaten inside the home, bitten by a dog and then left outside.Testimony in Read’s first trial began on April 29, following opening statements. It ended on July 1, when jurors reported being hopelessly deadlocked, and a mistrial was declared.Read’s team vowed to keep fighting, and her defense has waged a considerable battle across multiple courts, attempting to get charges dropped or have the case thrown out entirely. Most recently, she appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States.Meanwhile, a federal investigation into the case concluded without any charges being filed against police. A town-commissioned audit of the Canton Police Department did not reinvestigate any case but suggested that first responders should have photographed O’Keefe where he was found before he was moved; that all interviews of “critical witnesses” should have been done at the department after O’Keefe was taken to a hospital; and that agreed-to recordings of witness interviews be conducted.The Associated Press contributed to this report
DEDHAM, Mass. —The second murder trial of Karen Read, the Massachusetts woman whose case has sparked a national debate on police accountability and won her legions of devoted fans, begins Tuesday.
Based on the intense, ongoing interest in the case, Judge Beverly Cannone reinstated and expanded the buffer zone outside the courthouse. She said the jury from the first trial reported hearing demonstrators outside screaming and yelling during deliberations. The judge said the zone is necessary to prevent outside influence, interruption and distraction but protesters are challenging the order in court.
One person appeared to be arrested by Massachusetts State Police outside the courthouse on Tuesday morning.
The scene among most supporters is similar to a reunion, with people hugging one another and calling out their names.
Ashlyn Wade, a Read supporter from Canton, where John O’Keefe was killed, said she was there to hopefully see Read cleared of charges.
“I’m here for justice,” she said. “The murderer going to jail and Karen being exonerated — that would be justice.”
Dennis Sweeney, dressed as the judge in the case and wearing a pink T-shirt emblazoned with the word “assassin.” which was inspired by Read’s defense team, said he returned for the second trial because: “Karen Read is factually innocent and we want her freed.”
Read, 45, of Mansfield, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and other charges. The prosecution says she hit her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, with her vehicle outside of a home in Canton during a snowstorm on Jan. 29, 2022, following a night of drinking. Her defense team argued that someone else was responsible for killing O’Keefe.
The defense centered on allegations of a cover-up involving members of several law enforcement agencies. They say O’Keefe was beaten inside the home, bitten by a dog and then left outside.
Testimony in Read’s first trial began on April 29, following opening statements. It ended on July 1, when jurors reported being hopelessly deadlocked, and a mistrial was declared.
Read’s team vowed to keep fighting, and her defense has waged a considerable battle across multiple courts, attempting to get charges dropped or have the case thrown out entirely. Most recently, she appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States.
Meanwhile, a federal investigation into the case concluded without any charges being filed against police. A town-commissioned audit of the Canton Police Department did not reinvestigate any case but suggested that first responders should have photographed O’Keefe where he was found before he was moved; that all interviews of “critical witnesses” should have been done at the department after O’Keefe was taken to a hospital; and that agreed-to recordings of witness interviews be conducted.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
