Who will testify in Karen Learn retrial? – NBC Boston
The Norfolk County District Legal professional’s Workplace has launched a prolonged checklist of witnesses it could name on the upcoming retrial of Karen Learn.
In complete, 86 names had been submitted to the court docket.
“The witness checklist are simply potential witnesses, they should checklist anyone and everyone they may presumably have as a witness, though they may moderately name even half of them,” stated Peter Elikann, a prison protection legal professional who has been following the case.
Learn is charged within the 2022 dying of her Boston police officer boyfriend, John O’Keefe, in Canton, Massachusetts. Prosecutors argue she hit him along with her SUV and left him for lifeless, whereas Learn has claimed she is being framed in a coverup.
The primary trial led to a hung jury. She is charged with second-degree homicide, motorcar manslaughter and leaving the scene of a collision leading to dying.
One man who served on the jury displays on his expertise and shines some gentle on the controversy across the verdict.
Some jurors have stated because the trial’s finish that the group unanimously agreed to acquit Learn on the homicide and leaving the scene prices. Her protection has sought to have these prices dismissed — their newest effort was denied Thursday by a federal choose.
Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator within the case who’s suspended after testifying within the first trial, remains to be listed as a witness for the prosecution, regardless of sending disturbing textual content messages in regards to the defendant to his colleagues.
“It is a very awkward scenario for the prosecution, as a result of because the lead investigator, he actually form of must be known as, after which he comes with a lot alleged potential baggage that he may harm them,” Elikann stated.
We’re listening to from the household of Michael Proctor, the embattled lead investigator of the Karen Learn case.
State police are deliberating Proctor’s future with the division after his third day of trial board processing Thursday.
Learn’s father, William, can also be on the checklist. Elikann says the prosecution could need to know what Learn informed him after the alleged crime passed off.
“They anticipate to ask the daddy about, supposedly, she could have made admissions to him, basically confessions, they usually need to have him on the stand and speak to him about that,” he stated.
One other notable title on the checklist is Aiden Kearney, the blogger higher referred to as Turtleboy.
He was not known as within the first trial.
He allegedly had prolonged communications with Learn — they allegedly spoke for over 40 hours over 189 cellphone calls earlier than the primary trial. Kearney has lengthy advocated on Learn’s behalf, and tales he is posted have stated proceeds go to a fund for Learn’s authorized protection.
Kearney’s protection of the case, which has garnered in depth consideration, has led prosecutors to cost him with witness intimidation. He is denied these allegations.
“If he had not been round along with his tales, there’s a good likelihood that this may not have been as extremely publicized case because it has turned out to be,” Elikann famous.
We have now not but seen the checklist of witnesses the protection plans to name.
The trial is scheduled to begin April 1.
Learn the total prosecution witness checklist under:
