Karen Learn appeared in courtroom Wednesday as attorneys from each side of the aisle requested her re-trial for the alleged homicide of her cop boyfriend be delayed till April — with prosecutors arguing they supposed to “substantially” cut back the variety of witnesses on this go-around.
“It will allow me when I evaluate this case, which I’m still in the process of doing, of reducing the witness list substantially,” Particular Prosecutor Hank Brennan — whose earlier purchasers embrace Boston mobster Whitey Bulger — informed the courtroom throughout his delay arguments, the Boston Globe reported.
Learn’s first trial over the 2022 dying of Boston cop John O’Keefe dragged on for a grueling two months, with 74 witnesses being known as for in depth rounds of cross-examination. Brennan, who was assigned to the case in September, stated extra time would additionally enable him to raised put together to maintain the trial fast and environment friendly.
“I am new to the case. I’m not looking for a personal accommodation, but I think the idea of a motion to continue, a joint request, is in the interest not only of justice but I think — inevitably — I truly believe it is going to have a more efficient and effective trial,” he stated, based on WCVB.
Learn’s first trial ended with a gridlocked jury and mistrial in July, with the brand new trial at present slated for January. Her legal professional agreed with the prosecutors’ delay movement, explaining they might additionally like till April to asses new evaluation of proof.
Learn confirmed as much as courtroom Wednesday together with her ordinary type, sporting a plaid knit costume from Principle value about $400 as she sat by attentively whereas the attorneys argued their sides.
Choose Beverly Cannone didn’t decide on the delay motions, however scheduled two new hearings for Nov. 26 and Dec. 12.
The subsequent November listening to will talk about prosecution requests for telephone data — whereas the December listening to will deal with the prospect of one other look of a canine chew knowledgeable who beforehand testified that O’Keefe appeared to have been mauled by a canine previous to his dying.
That story was central to the protection’s clarification of the occasions that led to O’Keefe’s dying on Jan. 29, 2022. They argued that the Boston cop wasn’t killed by Learn — however moderately was crushed to dying by his cop buddies throughout some type of drunken brawl, then left within the snow with Learn being scapegoated because the killer.
Choose Cannon additionally dominated in favor of permitting a brand new knowledgeable for the prosecution to check information from Karen Learn’s SUV — which the state argued she used to run down O’Keefe, leaving him to die in a snowbank — whereas permitting the protection 5 days to search out their very own knowledgeable to guage the proof.
Learn can be holding out hope that she would possibly keep away from a second homicide trial altogether, as Massachusetts’ Supreme Judicial Courtroom continues to be ruling on a request to throw out costs of homicide and leaving the scene of an accident.
Her attorneys stated quite a few jurors got here ahead to say that they had unanimously cleared her of these costs and had solely been unable to achieve a call on manslaughter — however that they misunderstood the courtroom process, and a mistrial was known as earlier than they may clarify their place.
Choose Cannone beforehand denied that movement.
