DEDHAM – Lawyers for Karen Lees want to obtain the personal emails and phone records of Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey.
A defense filing filed Thursday asked the court to order the prosecutor to produce all communications from Morrissey “from his personal email address and/or cell phone that constitute material and relevant evidence in this case.”
Defense says Morrissey used his personal email to contact Stoughton District Court staff and judges about the case witness intimidation case to Aidan Kearney, the blogger known as “Turtle Boy” who is handling Read’s case.
WBZ-TV has contacted Morrissey’s office for comment.
Read’s lawyers have also filed an application to obtain transcripts of courtroom discussions that took place during the first trial. The prosecutor, meanwhile, revealed this week that it was seeking unredacted audio recordings, notes and texts between Read and a reporter for a 2023 interview with Boston Magazine.
Where does Karen Read’s case stand?
Read’s second criminal trial is set to begin on January 27, 2025, but both the prosecution and defense have asked the judge to delay the start of the trial until April.
The Supreme Court Wednesday arguments heard on whether or not to file a number of charges against Read. Her first criminal trial ended in a mistrial due to a hung jury, but her lawyers say multiple jurors reached out to say they had in fact decided to unanimously acquit her of two of the three charges.
Read will also face one wrongful death lawsuit before the civil court as soon as her criminal case is over.
Who is Karen Read?
Read, 44, is accused of hitting her boyfriend John O’Keefe, a Boston police officer, with her SUV and leaving him in the snow in Canton in January 2022 after a night of heavy drinking. She lived in Mansfield and worked as a finance assistant. analyst at the time.
Read is charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of personal injury and death. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges and says she is the victim of a cover-up by law enforcement and others.
