The Karen Learn case is again in courtroom on Tuesday for what is anticipated to be the ultimate listening to earlier than jury choice begins on April 1.
You may watch the listening to stay from Norfolk Superior Courtroom in Dedham, Massachusetts on CBS Information Boston when it begins at 11 a.m.
Learn is accused of hitting and killing her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, together with her SUV and leaving him to die within the snow exterior a Canton dwelling in 2022. Learn claims she is being framed by a number of individuals, together with legislation enforcement.
The primary trial ended final 12 months with a mistrial as a consequence of a hung jury. Although Learn’s protection group has sought to delay the trial whereas she makes a federal attraction on double jeopardy arguments, each Decide Beverly Cannone and a federal choose have rebuffed these requests and jury choice stays on observe to start out April 1.
A number of objects stay on the docket Tuesday. The prosecution is searching for textual content messages between Learn and protection legal professional David Yannetti from the times after O’Keefe’s dying, arguing that she gave up attorney-client privilege by disclosing the existence of the communications in public interviews.
Cannone has but to rule on the protection’s plans to mount a third-party offender protection, as attorneys did in the course of the first trial. Learn’s protection group claims O’Keefe was not killed by a car. As an alternative, they argue three males might have killed him throughout a struggle, then dragged his physique exterior and left O’Keefe to die.
In keeping with the protection, retired Boston police officer Brian Albert, who owned the house the place O’Keefe’s physique was discovered, is likely one of the males who might have been concerned. His nephew Colin Albert is the second particular person the protection has named, together with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent Brian Higgins, who exchanged “flirty” textual content messages with Learn.
Additionally nonetheless to be finalized Tuesday is the jury questionnaire, a movement for uncooked video from a newly launched documentary on Learn’s case, the place a buffer zone shall be arrange exterior Norfolk Superior Courtroom in the course of the trial, and the way the firing of lead investigator Michael Proctor will influence what paperwork shall be admitted as proof.
Cannone has additionally but to rule on the protection’s movement to dismiss the case.
Learn is charged with second-degree homicide, leaving the scene of bodily harm or dying, and manslaughter inebriated. She has pleaded not responsible to all counts.
A forty five-year-old monetary analyst, Learn was residing in Mansfield in 2022 on the time of O’Keefe’s dying.
For a full timeline of the Karen Learn case, click on right here.