In a surprising turn of events, the murder trial of Read, accused of striking her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, with her SUV, has been shifted to a smaller courtroom due to concerns raised by the defense team. Norfolk Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone made the decision on Thursday, moving the trial to a “much smaller” courtroom 25 after Read’s lawyers expressed concerns about the configuration of the main courtroom.
The defense team pointed out that the position of the jury box in the original courtroom would have hindered some jurors’ ability to see the faces of witnesses as they testified. Judge Cannone took this matter seriously and decided to relocate the trial to ensure a fair and unobstructed view for all jurors.
The trial is set to commence on Monday at 10 a.m., with both the prosecution and defense allotted 45 minutes each for their opening statements. In preparation for the trial, Judge Cannone also ruled on several motions, including the admissibility of evidence and the mention of certain individuals.
Prosecutors allege that Read left Officer O’Keefe to die in a blizzard after a night of drinking, while the defense claims she was framed in a widespread cover-up involving law enforcement and witnesses. Notably, Turtleboy blogger Aidan Kearney, who supported Read’s defense and made cover-up allegations, faced criminal charges related to Read’s case. However, both the prosecution and defense have agreed not to mention Kearney or his pending charges during the trial, unless his name is spontaneously brought up in witnesses’ testimony.
Judge Cannone has allowed Read’s lawyers to present “relevant, competent, admissible evidence” to argue that others may be responsible for Officer O’Keefe’s death. However, she has prohibited the defense from using this evidence during their opening statements. Additionally, a motion from prosecutors has been granted, barring attorneys from mentioning an ongoing investigation into law enforcement’s handling of the case.
Defense attorney David Yannetti has confirmed that he will not mention in his opening statement that Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor, a lead investigator in Read’s case, is currently under investigation himself.
Outside Norfolk Superior Court, Read’s father expressed the toll the lengthy and high-profile court process has taken on their family. He firmly believes in his daughter’s factual innocence and claims she is being framed.
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I remember reading about a similar case in my local news a few years ago. It involved a woman who was accused of hitting her husband with her car during an argument. The trial was highly publicized, and there was a lot of media attention surrounding the case.
The courtroom where the trial was initially scheduled to take place was a large one, capable of accommodating a large number of spectators. However, as the trial date approached, the defense team raised concerns about the potential bias that could arise from such