DEDHAM, Mass. — Jury selection is slated to begin Tuesday in the murder trial of Karen Read, the Mansfield woman accused of killing her Boston police officer boyfriend in 2022.
Read’s defense team added more fuel to their conspiracy fire during a final pretrial hearing at Norfolk Superior Court. Read is charged with running down John O’Keefe in the town of Canton on Jan. 29, 2022.
Read’s defense team argued against a motion filed by the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office to block the jury from hearing their theory that O’Keefe was attacked inside a Canton home by people the prosecution has identified as witnesses in the case.
Fatal hit-and-run: Karen Read, 41, of Mansfield, Mass., is charged with manslaughter in the Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, death of Boston police Officer John O’Keefe. O'Keefe, 46, was off duty at the time of his death. (Boston 25 News, Boston Police Department)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial FILE - Karen Read sits in court during jury selection for her murder trial at Norfolk County Superior Court, Wednesday, April 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. Read's trial is scheduled to begin Monday, April 29. (David McGlynn//New York Post via AP, Pool,File) (David McGlynn/AP)
Karen Read trial Day 1
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read, left, leaves Norfolk Superior Court with her attorney Alan Jackson, right, after the opening day of her trial, Monday, April 29, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is charged with killing her Boston police officer boyfriend by intentionally driving her SUV into him. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (Charles Krupa/AP)
APTOPIX Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read, right, is flanked by Massachusetts State Police while leaving Norfolk Superior Court after the opening day of her trial, Monday, April 29, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is charged with killing her Boston police officer boyfriend by intentionally driving her SUV into him. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (Charles Krupa/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read leaves Norfolk Superior Court after the opening day of her trial, Monday, April 29, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is charged with killing her Boston police officer boyfriend by intentionally driving her SUV into him. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (Charles Krupa/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial FILE - Karen Read, of Mansfield, Mass., center, departs Norfolk Superior Court following a day of jury selection, April 17, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read 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. Read's trial is scheduled to begin Monday, April 29. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File) (Steven Senne/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read leaves Norfolk Superior Court after the opening day of her trial, Monday, April 29, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is charged with killing her Boston police officer boyfriend by intentionally driving her SUV into him. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (Charles Krupa/AP)
Karen Read opening statements begin
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Aidan Kearney, seen here in the green shirt, attends an August hearing in the Karen Read case
Aidan Kearney, seen here in the green shirt, attends an August hearing in the Karen Read case
Karen Read supporters
Karen Read Karen Read, facing a murder charge in the death of an off-duty Boston police officer, was ordered held on $100,000 bail.
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U.S. Attorney ‘does not object’ to release of letters with feds in Karen Read case
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Officer John O'Keefe
Karen Read John O'Keefe High bail for girlfriend charged with manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston police officer
Karen Read John O'Keefe High bail for girlfriend charged with manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston police officer
Karen Read John O'Keefe High bail for girlfriend charged with manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston police officer
Karen Read John O'Keefe High bail for girlfriend charged with manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston police officer
Karen Read John O'Keefe High bail for girlfriend charged with manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston police officer
Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe (Boston Police Department)
Karen Read is arraigned in Stoughton District court accused of manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston Police officer John O'Keefe Karen Read is arraigned in Stoughton District court accused of manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston Police officer John O'Keefe
The state is using Read’s cracked right taillight as evidence she ran down O’Keefe in reverse with her SUV after a night of drinking.
Last week, Judge Beverly Cannone ordered the release of documentsincluding Read’s legal team’s full motion to dismiss the case, as well as the Commonwealth’s opposition to that motion to dismiss.
Read’s lawyers say the Norfolk District Attorney’s presentation of the case was based on “flimsy speculation and presumption, underpinned by a questionable and biased investigation, and highly dubious physical evidence.”
Karen Benson, a 15-year Canton resident, said the case is so controversial—and emotions are so high—many people in her town won’t even talk about the case with their neighbors.
“I wouldn’t say it’s torn [the town] apart, but you’re definitely on one side or the other, and unless you know who you’re talking to, you don’t talk about it,” Benson said.
Criminal defense attorney Peter Elikann said finding an impartial jury could be a challenge.
“They won’t find jurors who never heard of this case, but hopefully they will find jurors who have an open mind,” Elikann said.