With nonetheless no verdict within the Karen Learn homicide trial, a number of supporters of the Mansfield lady accused of killing her Boston Police officer boyfriend say they’re beginning to lose hope.
“I can’t believe that it’s gone this long,” Dedham resident Carrie Crossland informed the Herald. “As it goes on, I’m a little bit more disappointed that it wasn’t a quick verdict because I can’t understand how it couldn’t have been. My confidence is waning.”
Decide Beverly Cannone launched the jury at 4 p.m. Wednesday, with a juror stressing a long-held prior dedication later within the day. Deliberations started Tuesday afternoon following closing arguments.
Jurors have sat for 30 days of trial, and ready for a verdict has made some supporters develop weary and drained – irrespective of how a lot they imagine Learn shall be discovered not responsible.
At first, Crossland stated she sided with the prosecution that Learn struck John O’Keefe, a 16-year Boston Police officer and boyfriend of two years, together with her SUV following a drunken argument and left him to die in a snowstorm in entrance of 34 Fairview in Canton within the early hours of Jan. 29, 2022.
O’Keefe died on the age of 46.
Crossland stated she shortly modified her thoughts after “binge-watching” the trial.
“It only took me 15 minutes to know that Karen … Innocent? Guilty? I find her innocent, but there is so much reasonable doubt.”
Learn, 44, faces costs together with second-degree homicide.
Protection attorneys counter that outdoors actors killed O’Keefe and conspired with state and native police to border Learn for his homicide.
TD Floras drove right down to Norfolk County Superior Courtroom in Dedham from southern New Hampshire together with her good friend Marie Milroy to be outdoors the courthouse the primary two days of deliberations.
Floras additionally expressed disappointment {that a} verdict has but to come back by way of, saying the images of John O’Keefe’s cut-up arms are clear proof that Learn didn’t kill him.
A health worker who testified Monday for the protection on the ultimate day of testimony, Dr. Frank Sheridan, backed that of fellow protection witness Dr. Marie Russell, who stated final Friday she believed wounds to O’Keefe’s arms have been from a canine assault.
“Yesterday was more like of a circus atmosphere, but I think the people here are more solemn today,” Floras informed the Herald. “No one has lost sight of the fact that John O’Keefe has passed away. He was murdered by somebody. Likely, there will never be anybody held accountable for that.”
Milroy had a little bit of a differing opinion than her good friend, saying the drama and antics in and out of doors the courtroom have been on the forefront with O’Keefe’s demise taking a backseat of types.
“They have lost a son,” she stated of O’Keefe’s mother and father. “Regardless of what happens, she could get her life back, but he’s not coming back. That’s the problem. It has been so focused on … that you lose sight of the fact that there’s a dead person involved in this incident and a family that’s grieving.”
Controversy sparked within the courtroom Wednesday morning when protection lawyer Alan Jackson took exception to the design of the decision slip – it didn’t permit jurors to verify a field marked “not guilty” for the 2 subordinate costs, manslaughter whereas working a motorcar beneath the affect and leaving the scene of an accident leading to demise.
Cannone later revised the shape to the protection’s liking, however the choose’s preliminary sheet caught the detest of Learn supporters.
“What, did Beverly stay up all night and say ‘How am I going to (expletive) the next day up?’ So what did she do? She puts a wrench on the form,” stated Liz, a supporter who declined to offer her final identify.
Learn’s true-crime superstar standing has ascended nationwide and worldwide, with supporters flocking to Dedham from outdoors New England and the nation.
Former ESPN soccer analyst Todd McShay posted his emotions on the case on X, siding with the protection.
“I’ve kept quiet on this for months (and this will be my only post on the matter),” he wrote, “but how could any sane person, after listening to eight weeks of Jackson/Yanetti shred The Commonwealth’s witnesses and theories, find Karen Read guilty? Anything less than a not guilty verdict screams more foul play.”
