A day after securing an acquittal for Karen Readon’s murder and manslaughter charges, defense lawyer Alan Jackson rushed to the media to praise his client’s tenacity and criticize the court and the prosecution.
Jackson told local radio personality Howie Carr on Thursday that this was the most difficult case he has ever attempted in his life. And we prevailed in spite of the procedure that was established in that Dedham courtroom, not because of it. I thought it was a travesty. A complete farce.
Jackson stated that he never questioned the evidence or Read’s innocence in the January 2022 death of her lover, Boston Police Officer John O. Keefe, in an interview with Carr, who has been an outspoken supporter of Read’s defense.
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He did, however, express serious skepticism that Read would receive a fair trial in Norfolk Superior Court. After a mistrial last summer due to a hung jury in her first trial, she was eventually put on trial twice for murder in O Keefe’s death.
Jackson cited allegations that jurors in Read’s first trial had decided to acquit her of second-degree murder and another charge, saying, “I think we may be the only duo, lawyer and client, who have gotten back-to-back acquittals on murder charges.”
Special prosecutor Hank Brennan stated that his two main responsibilities when he joined the team last fall to oversee prosecutors for Read’s retrial were to guarantee that Read was given a fair trial and that the circumstances surrounding O Keefe’s death were fairly and completely presented in the courtroom without outside interference.
Jackson retaliated on Thursday, saying that was merely lip service. That was not at all what it was.
He informed Carr that he thought the prosecution did not want jurors to hear from all of the case’s witnesses, experts, and supporting material.
I’m capable of managing a prosecutor. “With my hands tied behind my back, I can defeat most prosecutors,” Jackson remarked. The issue arises when the judge sides with the Commonwealth. Life is really hard because of that.
He said that Judge Beverly Cannone, who presided over Read’s two trials, had a history of making odd decisions that favored the prosecution.
Jackson remarked that rather than merely calling the shots, it appeared that Judge Cannone had a notion of what and how she believed the jury should be presented with the evidence.
When Carr asked Jackson if he had any words for Cannone, the lawyer from Los Angeles hesitated a while before responding, “Just do better.” Try not to touch the scale with your thumb. Allow the evidence to be presented to the fact-finder in a fair and, most importantly, unbiased manner.
“I did not feel this was an impartial judge,” he continued.
Jackson used a more caustic tone while speaking to Michael Morrissey, the district attorney for Norfolk, who was the target of considerable criticism and scrutiny for his choice to try Read for murder and then retry him.
“Be better, sir,” Jackson urged the DA to do. It is your responsibility to pursue justice. It is not your responsibility to win cases. He was only doing that.
On the morning of January 29, 2022, prosecutors claimed that Read was operating a vehicle while intoxicated when she hit and fatally injured O Keefe with her SUV while dropping him off at a Canton after-party. However, the defense argued that Read was presented as a byproduct of a flawed and prejudiced investigation. The jury found Read guilty of driving under the influence but not guilty of any other serious offenses. She received a one-year probationary sentence.
Jackson, a heavy-hitting defense lawyer who was once a prosecutor in Los Angeles, commended Read and stated that his client is feeling fantastic after Wednesday’s ruling.
Jackson said to Carr, “She is the toughest woman I know.” Her spine is made of steel. She has no quit. She has never stopped trying.
He also explained Read’s active involvement in her own legal defense, which included Jackson and lawyers Robert Alessi, Elizabeth Little, and David Yannetti. Jackson praised his client’s attention to detail in legal concerns, notwithstanding Read’s professional history as an adjunct professor at Bentley University and equities analyst at Fidelity Investments.
According to Jackson, she is the defense team’s unsung superstar. I’ve seen some really outstanding lawyers, but she’s the best I’ve ever seen.
Abby Patkin covers a wide range of topics as a general assignment news reporter, including crime, public transportation, health, and everything in between. She has been reporting on the murder case of Karen Read.
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