Live updates: Witness testimony in Karen Reed case begins after opening statements
Opening statements were made Monday, followed by witness testimony in the trial of Karen Reed, a Massachusetts woman accused in the 2022 death of her Boston police officer boyfriend. Reed, 43, of Mansfield, has pleaded not guilty to her second-degree murder charge. and other charges. Prosecutors said she hit her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, with her car on January 29, 2022, outside her home in Canton during a snowstorm after she had been drinking. “Defendant Karen Reed is guilty” of second-degree murder. “He hit the victim, Mr O'Keeffe, with his car, pushed him to the ground and smashed his head against the ground, causing bleeding in his brain and leaving him swollen,” prosecutor Adam Lally said. “Karen Reid was framed. Her car never hit John O'Keefe. She didn't cause his death. And that means someone else did it.” '' said defense attorney David Yanetti. Her defense has long revolved around allegations of a cover-up involving officials from multiple law enforcement agencies. They allege O'Keefe was beaten and bitten by a dog inside the home, then left outside. Judge Beverly Canone ruled Thursday that the defense is allowed to claim someone killed O'Keefe, but not in opening statements. Live updates: 12:14 p.m. The prosecution calls Paul O'Keefe as its first witness. He choked up before saying that John O'Keeffe was his brother. “We all called him Johnny,” says Paul O'Keefe. She said her sister Kristen died of brain cancer in 2013. Her husband Stephen died two months later in January 2014. The couple left behind two children, ages 6 and 3, whom John cared for. 11:11 a.m.: Defense attorney David Yanetti's opening statement begins with “Karen Reed was framed.” 10:33 a.m.: Prosecutor Adam Lally gives opening statement and says DNA evidence from bumper and taillights will be presented. 10:25 a.m.: 12 of 17 jurors return verdict. . Individual jurors do not know whether they are alternates 10:12 a.m.: Jurors enter the courtroom and are sworn in by the court clerk 9:39 a.m.: Mr. Reed tells his attorney and girlfriend entered the courtroom with his family. They wear pink as a show of support 8.36am: Police will be stationed along the High Street. Reed supporters gather outside buffer zone Follow trial: Live updates from the courtroom What you need to know about the case: Karen Reed, 43, of Mansfield, charged with second-degree murder and other charges He has been indicted. Her prosecutors say she hit her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, with her car during a snowstorm on January 29, 2022, outside her home in Canton after drinking alcohol. She maintains her innocence. Reed and her legal team claim she is the victim of a cover-up, and she plans to provide third-party defense. She claims Ms O'Keefe was beaten and bitten by a dog inside the house, then left outside. In pretrial motions, prosecutors disclosed the existence of text messages suggesting a “romantic involvement” between Reed and her friend who was present at the scene. O'Keeffe visited on the night of the incident. Other documents also suggest troubled relations between Mr. Read and Mr. O'Keefe. Mr Reid is also suspected of having been in frequent contact with controversial blogger Aiden Carney, known as 'Turtleboy', who is currently being charged in a related case. The jury selection process for this case spanned her five days in court. Seventeen jurors (7 women and 10 men) were selected. Last week, her attorneys filed a motion arguing that the current layout of Norfolk County Superior Court violates their constitutional conflict rights because some jurors cannot watch the trial. The face of the witness. In response, prosecutors pointed out that the courtroom has been in use for more than a century and is the largest in the county. FOLLOW THE TRIAL: LIVE UPDATES FROM THE COURT Mr Cannone said the current jury configuration was “firm belief”, but because the box was legal, the trial was moved to a smaller courtroom. Prosecutors plan to call up to 87 witnesses during the trial, according to court documents. The defense plans to summon up to 77 people. His name is also on both lists. Ahead of the trial, which sparked contentious debate and protests, a judge ordered a “buffer zone” to be created around the courthouse. A Supreme Court of Justice judge upheld the decision, which is on appeal, and the SJC agreed to hear the case “expeditiously.”
Opening statements were made Monday, followed by witness testimony in the trial of Karen Reed, a Massachusetts woman accused in the 2022 death of her Boston police officer boyfriend.
Reed, 43, of Mansfield, has pleaded not guilty to charges including second-degree murder. Her prosecutors say she hit her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, with her car during a snowstorm on January 29, 2022, outside her home in Canton after drinking alcohol.
“Defendant Karen Reed is guilty of second-degree murder. She struck the victim, Mr. O'Keefe, with her car, pushed her to the ground, and slammed her head against the ground, causing bleeding in her brain and leaving her swollen. ” said prosecutor Adam Lally.
“Karen Reid was framed. Her car didn't hit John O'Keefe. She didn't cause his death. And that means someone else did it.” said defense attorney David Yanetti.
Her defense has long revolved around allegations of a cover-up involving officials from multiple law enforcement agencies. They allege O'Keefe was beaten and bitten by a dog inside the home, then left outside.
Judge Beverly Canone ruled Thursday that the defense is allowed to argue that someone else killed O'Keefe, but not in opening statements.
- At 12:14 p.m., the prosecution calls Paul O'Keefe as its first witness. He choked up before saying that John O'Keeffe was his brother. “We all called him Johnny,” says Paul O'Keefe. He said his sister Kristen died of brain cancer in 2013. Her husband Stephen died two months later in January 2014. John was left with two children, ages 6 and 3, whom he cared for.
- 11:11 a.m.: Defense attorney David Yanetti begins his opening statement by saying, “Karen Reed was framed.”
- 10:33 a.m.: Prosecutor Adam Lally gives his opening statement and says DNA evidence from the bumper and taillights will be presented.
- 10:25 a.m.: 12 of 17 jurors reach verdict.Individual jurors do not know whether they are alternates.
- 10:12 a.m.: Jurors enter the courtroom and are sworn in by the court clerk.
- 9:39 a.m.: Ms. Reed enters the courtroom with her lawyer and family members wearing pink as a show of support.
- 8:36 a.m.: Officers are stationed along High Street.Read supporters are clustered outside the buffer zone
- Follow the trial: Live updates from the courtroom
What you need to know about this:
- The suspect, Karen Reed, 43, of Mansfield, is charged with second-degree murder. Her prosecutors say she hit her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, with her car during a snowstorm on January 29, 2022, outside her home in Canton after drinking alcohol. She maintained her innocence.
- Mr. Reed and his defense team argue that she is the victim of a cover-up and plan to have a third party represent her as the culprit. They allege O'Keefe was beaten and bitten by a dog inside the home, then left outside.
- In pretrial motions, prosecutors revealed text messages suggesting a “romantic involvement” between Reid and O'Keefe and a friend who was there the night of the incident. Other documents also suggest troubled relations between Reade and O'Keeffe.
- Mr Reid is also suspected of having been in frequent contact with controversial blogger Aiden Carney, known as 'Turtleboy', and is currently facing charges in connection with the incident.
- The trial is expected to last six to eight weeks after the jury is seated.
The jury selection process in this case spanned five days in court. Seventeen jurors (7 women and 10 men) were selected.
Last week, her attorneys filed a motion arguing that the current layout of Norfolk County Superior Court violates their constitutional right to confrontation because several jurors cannot see the faces of witnesses. Prosecutors pointed out that the courtroom has been in use for more than a century and is the largest in the county.
Follow the trial: Live updates from the courtroom
Canone said he had a “firm belief” that the current jury seating arrangement was legal, but the trial was moved to a smaller courtroom.
Prosecutors plan to call up to 87 witnesses during the trial, according to court documents. The defense is expected to call up up to 77 players, with several names on both lists.
Ahead of the trial, which sparked controversy and protests, a judge ordered a “buffer zone” to be created around the courthouse. A Supreme Court of Justice judge upheld the decision, which is on appeal, and the SJC agreed to hear the case “expeditiously.”