Karen Learn opening statements right now (Watch dwell)
9 months following a dramatic mistrial declared below the glare of the nationwide highlight, Karen Learn is on trial once more for the homicide of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe.
Learn, 45, of Mansfield, faces fees of second-degree homicide, manslaughter whereas working a motorcar below the affect, and leaving the scene of an accident inflicting loss of life.
The case
Prosecutors say that Learn backed her Lexus SUV into O’Keefe at as much as 24 mph within the early morning hours of Jan. 29, 2022, leaving him to freeze and die on the entrance garden of 34 Fairview Street in Canton.
The protection has countered that another person, or a number of others, killed him inside the home and left his physique on the garden. They are saying that these killers, which might embody house owner Brian Albert, a fellow Boston cop who they are saying is properly linked in the neighborhood, labored with native police and crooked prosecutors to create a sweeping body job of Learn.
Learn was tried final yr however that case ended July 1 in mistrial after the jurors reported by way of three more and more assertive notes that they’d reached an deadlock.
In a twist few noticed coming, the protection shortly thereafter mentioned that a number of jurors had come ahead to say they weren’t really at an deadlock on two of the fees — together with homicide — however have been able to acquit. The jurors, in line with protection arguments, have been solely held on the manslaughter cost.
This alleged revelation launched a multi-pronged effort to have each cost however manslaughter dropped in opposition to Learn within the retrial. The protection mentioned that the disclosures have been tantamount to a verdict and that to retry her on the opposite fees could be a violation of her constitutional protections from Double Jeopardy. However these efforts failed earlier than trial Choose Beverly J. Cannone, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Courtroom, the federal court docket in Boston, and the federal Courtroom of Appeals for the First Circuit.
The protection has since launched a petition to have the argument reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Courtroom, however the court docket declined to delay the beginning of Learn’s retrial to take it up.
Opening day
Opening statements are set to be delivered right now. However these have but to start as attorneys and Choose Cannone are hammering out the ultimate particulars on 4 motions filed over the weekend.
Victoria George, a lawyer added to the protection staff forward of jury choice, will not be on the protection desk. As a substitute, she’s sitting on Learn’s aspect of the gallery. She was an alternate juror within the final trial.
Lawyer Alan Jackson is anticipated to ship the opening assertion for the protection. Particular prosecutor Hank Brennan is anticipated to take action for the Commonwealth.
It is a growing story.
