Opening statements in Read’s second murder trial remain just out of reach after one juror was added, but another who was selected last week dropped out.
The ninth day of jury selection concluded with the number of jurors still at 16. While technically enough to fill a full jury bench, Judge Beverly Cannone wants a jury of 18 people, including six alternates.
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Juror selection has concluded for the day in the Karen Read trial.
— Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 14, 2025
1 new juror added and they lost 1 who was picked last week.
That means we’re still at 16. They want at least 18.
Back tomorrow to continue.
The prosecution plans to try and use Karen Read's own words against her according to a new filing from the CW:
— Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 14, 2025
"Commonwealth's Notice of Intention to Introduce Extrajudicial Statements of the Defendant".
Read has given several interviews about this case and is the subject of… pic.twitter.com/CprFPRP7oW
Judge Cannone calls for a 35 minute break to get the remaining jury candidates lunch. 20 plus remain
— Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 14, 2025
Both sides are huddled together with Judge Cannone at sidebar. They appear to be looking at a print out of something. Some yawns in the seats where the jury candidates are waiting to be individually questioned.
— Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 14, 2025
It's Monday... can't blame them.
5 of the 10 people awarded media spots in the courtroom this week for the Karen Read trial did not show up today so myself and the other alternates are being allowed in for the rest of today.
— Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 14, 2025
Alternate seats are being filled on a day-to-day basis at 11am depending on the number…
Good morning from day 9 of jury selection in the Commonwealth vs. Karen Read.
— Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 14, 2025
There is a weekly lottery to get in to the courtroom and our number did not come up. Only 1 of the 5 Boston TV stations made it this week.
I’m at the courthouse sitting 3rd on the alternate list if…
On Thursday, 41 candidates were brought in with almost all knowing about the case. 36 had seen, heard, or talked about the case, 25 had an opinion and 12 had formed a bias.
Outside court, Read said opening statements were expected to start tomorrow. That was never finalized and it’s unclear if that will happen even if all jurors are seated today.
Boston 25 legal expert Peter Elikann says there is a likelihood the trial will start this week.
“It’s thought that it will be a quicker trial,” Elikann said. “The prosecution has said that they are going to be very succinct and not only have maybe half the witnesses that they had last time. And so, it is anticipated that it is going to be a quicker trial than the nine week trial we had last time and yet there’s no guarantees you never know where the trial is gonna go until it really is underway.”
Last week Karen Read compared her ongoing murder case to the OJ Simpson trial in a new interview with Vanity Fair. Read said her trial for the death of John O’Keefe reminds her of the former NFL star’s murder case for the death of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman in 1996.
Read told the magazine the investigation into Simpson was dubious and knowing what she knows now, she would have cheered at his acquittal.
On Wednesday, the United States Supreme Court denied Read’s emergency filing to delay her retrial.
The SCOTUS, however, said they would decide on April 25 if they want to review her request to drop two of the three charges against her.
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.
There was no court on Friday.
Day 9 of jury selection gets underway at 9 a.m.
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