The Karen Learn homicide trial circus turned a bit chaotic on Friday, with Learn supporters and detractors clashing for the primary time outdoors the Dedham courthouse.
Learn — who’s accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston cop John O’Keefe — has had a military of followers clad in pink outdoors the trial because it began in April.
Then on Friday, a bunch of Learn critics confirmed up with indicators that acknowledged: “Karen Read killed a man!” “Karen Read is guilty!” “Rot in jail” “This is about Officer John O’Keefe, not you!” “Guilty.”
The Learn supporters and 5 detractors clashed alongside Excessive Road subsequent to the courthouse and in entrance of First Church and Parish, beginning contained in the court docket’s buffer zone earlier than it trickled down the road as police obtained between the teams. The conflict occurred round 1 p.m. after the jury famous that they’re deadlocked.
The detractors claimed that a few of Learn’s supporters confirmed as much as a VFW to harass O’Keefe’s household on Thursday, because the jury was deliberating.
“The O’Keefe family has been harassed relentlessly including yesterday when these circus animals went down there to harass the O’Keefe family,” Elisa Bennett informed reporters. “Have some respect — a man has died. He has lost his life.”
One other Learn critic, Julie Gunto, mentioned Learn employed Aidan Kearney, also called “Turtleboy” to launch a PR marketing campaign.
“As you can see, it worked,” Gunto mentioned. “This is an absolute disgrace to John and his family.”
In the meantime, these supporting Learn keep that she’s not responsible, and are blaming the case on police “corruption.”
“It is blatant, and it’s in our faces,” mentioned Nick Rocco, who’s intently related to Learn and her protection workforce. “If we don’t wake up, it’s going to be you next, and it’s going to be me next, and it’s going to be everybody here next.”
Rocco mentioned he has been serving to fund Learn’s protection, and claimed that he helped elevate $250,000.
Rita Lombardi, who’s a lead member of the “Free Karen Read” motion, claimed that Canton residents have been “subjected to domestic terrorism.”
“We have seen a complete role reversal in this case,” Lombardi mentioned. “We have seen the Commonwealth be the ones to gaslight, and we have seen the defense present unrefutable, scientific evidence to prove she was not the one who killed John O’Keefe.”
