A forensics expert zeroed in on two pieces of evidence ahead of Karen Read's murder trial — the autopsy and the way the victim's clothes were handled — and said he believes the medical examiner's testimony will be pivotal. Read allegedly hit her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, with her car and left him to die in the snow, prosecutors said. Read denied the allegations and claimed there was a cover-up to frame her.
On Wednesday, a full jury was selected among hundreds of prospective jurists, setting the stage for what's expected to be a lengthy and tense trial. Read's supporters and adversaries have been clashing outside the courthouse. On Thursday, several pretrial motions are expected to be resolved, and opening statements are scheduled to start Monday.
Are we talking about hours? Days? Weeks? Because the longer you wait to submit this, the less secure it is,' Morgan said, 'And if you can't account for it 24/7, you spoil the chain of custody. And, at that point, there's little or no accountability. You don't know who's come in contact with these items. 'It can be very delicate. And once you have that evidence as a forensic investigator, you need to know how it was packaged and who packaged it.
The case split the otherwise quiet suburban town, and a local blogger, Aiden Kearney, who goes by the nickname 'Turtleboy,' riled up the 'Free Karen' side of the debate. He is often seen with a cellphone camera and bullhorn leading demonstrations and trumpeting Read's law enforcement cover-up defense. The Norfolk County District Attorney's Office alleged he crossed a line by intimidating witnesses, and he was arrested in October, enraging his loyal followers.
Kearney was indicted on over a dozen felonies involving witness intimidation. He also served 60 days in jail for violating a protective order, but he has since been freed and is waiting for his own trial. 'The influence of media, social media, the sidebars with the turtle blogger. All the information that's been going back and forth from the DA's office and the defense team.