Jury selection started Tuesday morning in the retrial of Karen Read, the Mansfield woman who says she was framed by law enforcement in the 2022 death of her Boston police officer boyfriend.
Watch video from court:
Read’s second murder trial began with Norfolk Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone introducing the case against the 45-year-old Mansfield woman and issuing instructions to 92 prospective jurors.
Cannone read the names of all 150 potential witnesses that the defense and prosecution could call in this case and asked the prospective jurors to disclose whether they knew anyone on the witness list.
Of the 92 prospective jurors called to court on Tuesday, 40 indicated that they’ve already formed an opinion of the case, 16 indicated they’ve already formed a “bias,” and 78 indicated that they’ve heard or spoken about the case.
Candidates for the jury were then asked to fill out a jury questionnaire with at least 30 questions to gauge how much they knew about the case.
One hundred thirty prospective jurors are being summoned every day this week.
Judge Cannone also announced that she expects Read’s second trial to last six to eight weeks, with 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. court sessions, Monday through Friday.
Read is accused of hitting John O’Keefe with her Lexus SUV in Canton on Jan. 29, 2022, and leaving him to die in the cold after a night of drinking.
The defense has sought to portray Read as the victim, saying O’Keefe was actually killed inside the Albert family home at 34 Fairview Road in Canton and then dragged outside and left for dead.
She has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death.
The questions include whether they’ve already made up their mind about the case, whether they have family or close friends in Canton, how they might believe or disbelieve the testimony of a police officer, or if they’ve been involved in groups critical or in support of law enforcement and police officers.
Dedham, MA – April 12: Karen Read at her pre-trial hearing at Norfolk Superior Court. (Photo by David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Karen Read watches attorney Robert Alessi make a point during her trial at Norfolk Superior Court at Dedham, Mass., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)
Judge approves joint motion to delay start of Karen Read’s 2nd murder trial
Dedham, MA – July 1: Karen Read looks toward the jurors, as they are greeted by Judge Beverly J. Cannone (not pictured) in Norfolk Superior Court. (Photo by Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
All stand as the jury files out to the courtroom, to start their fifth day of deliberations in the murder trial for Karen Read in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Monday, July 1, 2024. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)
Karen Read jurors tell judge they’ve been unable to reach unanimous verdict
Day 3 of jury deliberations finishes without verdict in Karen Read trial
Karen Read awaits the juries verdict in her murder case at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday June 26, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP)
Defense attorneys in Karen Read murder trial argue with judge over jury verdict slip
Some witnesses are in the courtroom on Tuesday include Brian Albert, Colin Albert, and Jennifer McCabe.
Karen Read
Karen Read, center right, is seated Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court, in Dedham, Mass., during her trial on charges in connection with the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O’Keefe. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)
Karen Read is seated Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court, in Dedham, Mass., during her trial on charges in connection with the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O’Keefe. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)
Karen Read
Karen Read smiles after listening to her attorney Alan Jackson during her trial at Norfolk County Superior Court, Friday, May 17, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor’easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)
Karen Read
Karen Read
Karen Read sits with her legal team team in court Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor’easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (David McGlynn/New York Post via AP, Pool)
Karen Read sits with her legal team team in court, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor’easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (David McGlynn/New York Post via AP, Pool)
Judge Cannone ruled Monday that Read’s defense team will not be allowed to blame others for John O’Keefe’s death by name during opening statements.
According to Cannone, Read’s lawyers could potentially name Brian Albert and Brian Higgins as suspects in front of the jury. But she writes only if evidence supporting it comes out at trial.
In a separate court filing Monday, Cannone said she would not allow Michael Easter, a retired FBI agent, to testify on behalf of the defense about the quality of the investigation into the death of O’Keefe. Read’s lawyers wanted Easter to talk about flaws and procedural issues.
The start of jury selection comes after several failed attempts by the defense to get the case thrown out.
Read’s first trial ended with a hung jury in July 2024.
Hundreds are expected to gather outside the courthouse over the next several weeks in support of Read.
“It’s worldwide; the world is watching,” said Bonnie Fitzgibbon in Dedham.
Get caught up with all the latest news in the Karen Read case.
Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Read the full article here
