Read juror questionnaire released
Seven more jurors have been added for the murder trial of Mansfield’s Karen Read, with the Norfolk Superior Court clerk’s office revealing the juror questionnaire asks if the media coverage and police involvement would taint their opinions.
Wednesday was the second day of jury selection in the case, with the total number of jurors now at 11 of the 16 required to begin.
While the day began with defense attorney David Yannetti asking to speak on an “important” matter, Judge Beverly Cannone said she had no motions in front of her for him to argue and called the attorneys to a lengthy sidebar. Following that sidebar, there was no more discussion and jury questioning began.
“It is alleged that on January 29, 2022, while intoxicated and operating her motor vehicle in Canton, MA, the defendant, Karen Read, killed her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, an off-duty Boston Police officer,” the first question on the form states. “Is there anything about the description of the case, the charges, or that the victim was an off-duty police officer, that causes you to believe that you cannot be fair and impartial in this case?”
Potential jurors may answer “Yes,” “No,” or “Not Sure” to each question.
Three of the 29 questions included on the questionnaire, which jurors fill out individually following a general questioning as a group by the judge, directly refer to the media coverage of the case: Question 4: “Reports about this case have been publicized in the media. Do you think you have read, seen, heard, or discussed anything about this case from any source?”
Question 29: “Do you have any concerns about your personal privacy due to the presence of video cameras in the courtroom and/or the highly publicized nature of the case?”
Question six indirectly refers to the coverage of the case, as it asks, “Have you already started to make up your mind about this case?” This is also one of the general questions asked of the potential jurors en masse, to which many answered in the affirmative.
Other questions ask whether the juror is predisposed either positively or negatively toward police officers and whether they have been involved in organizations against drunk driving.
Two other questions would relay a potential jurors expectations of the defendant. One question asks whether Read “should prove her innocence” and another asks that if Read chooses not to testify, “do you think she is probably guilty or hiding something?”