DEDHAM, Mass. — Jury selection begins Tuesday morning in the murder trial for Karen Read, the woman accused of hitting and killing her Boston police officer boyfriend with her car.
Read, of Mansfield, will stand trial for the murder of John O’Keefe in Canton in January 2022. Prosecutors have said Read backed over O’Keefe with her SUV after a night of drinking, leaving him to die in a blizzard outside a Canton home.
The defense has argued that Read is being framed and that O’Keefe was beaten and attacked by a dog inside the home of another Boston police officer.
A buffer zone that includes metal barricades and orange traffic drums has been set up around Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham. No one is allowed to demonstrate with signs within 200 feet of the courthouse. There are also strict rules in place for those inside the courthouse.
“It is further ordered that no individuals will be permitted to wear or exhibit any buttons, photographs, clothing, or insignia, relating to the case pending against the defendant or relating to any trial participant, in the courthouse during the trial,” Massachusetts State Police said Monday.
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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Karen Read and Officer O'Keefe
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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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Karen Read new in court
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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
Law enforcement officers who are testifying or are members of the audience are also prohibited from wearing their department-issued uniforms or any police emblems in the courthouse.
When choosing jury members, legal experts like Peter Elikann said there’s concern that so many members of the public are aware of this case, that they may have already formed opinions.
Elikann, a criminal defense attorney, said finding an impartial jury could be a challenge.
“We won’t find jurors that never heard of this case perhaps, but hopefully we will find jurors that have an open mind and that’s the bottom line, we need jurors with an open mind,” said Elikann.
The trial is expected to last between 6 and 7 weeks.