Karen Read arriving at the courthouse Monday morning with members of her legal team.Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
DEDHAM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — UPDATED 3:45 P.M. 4/22/24
Jury selection started wrapping up in Karen Read's murder trial Monday afternoon.
Nineteen jurors have been selected, instead of the 16 the judge originally wanted.
WBZ-TV's Kristina Rex reported that the court wanted more jurors in case any problems come up in the high-profile case.
The goal is to get one more juror so there are 20 total, but only 16 will actually sit for the trial.
Jury selection will pick back up on Wednesday. The court is aiming for opening statements on Monday, April 29, Rex reported.
Karen Read is accused of killing her boyfriend, former Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, by running him over with an SUV.
She denies the charges.
While jury selection was taking place on Monday, there was action outside the courthouse between Karen Read supporters and the state.
The court ordered a buffer zone be put into place keeping demonstrators 200 feet away from the courthouse and preventing them from holding signs and wearing pro-Karen Read clothes.
Read supporter Dina Warchal of Waltham stood outside the buffer zone Monday morning and said she disagrees with the ruling.
"You can't wear any logos, I can't walk through with my American flag," she said. "It's a sad day here in America."
That decision to impose a buffer zone is being appealed.
WBZ NewsRadio's James Rojas (@JamesRojasMMJ) reports:
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