Photo: WBZ NewsRadio
DEDHAM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Less than a week away from the retrial in the Karen Read murder case, the defense team has added a familiar face to their team.
According to court documents, attorney Victoria George has joined Read’s defense team after serving as an alternate juror in the first trial. Wednesday’s filings in Norfolk Superior Court also indicate that she currently works for fellow defense attorney David Yannetti’s law firm.
George revealed herself as one of the jurors to CBS News Boston back on March 5. As an alternate juror, George was not involved in deliberations and therefore had no say over the outcome of the case.
"I was a fair-minded juror who left this trial questioning the integrity of the system long before the defense filed a motion to dismiss with allegations of jury tampering. It is the Read case itself—and the fact that it is still being brought—that has left many in Massachusetts wary, distrustful, and scared of our system," said George in the statement to CBS News Boston.
Read More: Karen Read Case: Federal Judge Denies Defense Request To Delay 2nd Trial
Judge Beverly Cannone previously barred attorney Mark Bederow from joining Read’s defense team, who is currently representing blogger Aidan Kearney as he faces witness intimidation charges. Unlike Bederow, who primarily practices out of New York, George is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth.
Also on Wednesday, Judge Cannone ordered an expanded buffer zone to try to prevent jurors from being influenced by activity outside the courthouse.
The retrial is scheduled to begin with jury selection on April 1.
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