DEDHAM, Mass. — Juror seats for the retrial of Karen Read became nearly two-thirds full on Thursday as the selection process in the murder case continued for a third day.
At the closing of court around 4 p.m., the Norfolk County Superior Court clerk told Boston 25′s Ted Daniel that 10 of the 16 seats have been filled, with 5 men and 5 women.
Day 3 of jury selection for the Karen Read trial is done.
— Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 3, 2025
Clerk tells 10 of the 16 seats have been filled.
5 men and 5 women.
Seven jurors were seated at the start of the day, but in an update shortly before 2 p.m., Boston 25′s Ted Daniel reported that an eighth juror had been selected.
Court clerk tells me 8 jurors have been seated for the Karen Read trial.
— Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 3, 2025
4 men and 4 women.
The selection process continues.
One jury candidate asked if there is coffee with their lunch. Negative Ghost Rider.
Norfolk Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone has questioned hundreds of prospective jurors over nearly three full days, selecting four men and four women. Five jurors were picked Wednesday, and two were settled upon Tuesday.
Cannone has warned the jurors that they’ll be making a lengthy commitment, estimating that testimony in Read’s second murder trial could last anywhere between six and eight weeks.
Many of the jurors have indicated during the interview process that they’ve heard of the case already, have formed an opinion, or have a bias to one side or another.
Cannone was expected to question another 40 prospective jurors on Thursday.
I would imagine this is unusual for any trial. There are 40 prospective jurors being questioned right now.
— Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 3, 2025
-37 of them have spoken or heard about the case
-21 have already formed an opinion
-3 report having bias to one side or the other
The court needs to seat a jury of 12, including at least four alternate jurors.
Read’s first trial ended with a hung jury in July 2024.
As jury selection unfolds in the Dedham courthouse, Read supporters Jason Grant, Allison Taggart, Lisa Peterson, and Samantha Lyons are suing Cannone over her decision to reinstate a 200-foot buffer zone outside, arguing that their “constitutional guarantees” to protest have been violated.
The buffer zone was first put in place ahead of Read’s first trial in April 2024 due to the significant public attention the case had drawn and then extended last week by Cannone at the request of the prosecution to limit demonstrators from gathering in the neighborhood around the courthouse
The lawsuit seeks to block enforcement of the buffer zone order and restore their right to protest.
A federal judge is expected to hear the complaint on Friday.
Read, 45, of Mansfield, 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.
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