Paula Barrows

With the trial on the horizon and awareness to the case heightening, there were some logistics to smooth out. Here's Louise Fieldman again.

With the trial on the horizon and awareness to the case heightening, there were some logistics to smooth out. Here's Louise Fieldman again.

This concern saw no argument from the judge or prosecutors.

This concern saw no argument from the judge or prosecutors.

And the smaller courtroom meant more congestion both inside and out. Judge Canone needed to come up with a solution for crowd control and for protecting both jurors and witnesses.

And the smaller courtroom meant more congestion both inside and out. Judge Canone needed to come up with a solution for crowd control and for protecting both jurors and witnesses.

Prosecutors wanted a 500-foot buffer zone, but Canone believed 200 feet was sufficient.

Prosecutors wanted a 500-foot buffer zone, but Canone believed 200 feet was sufficient.

With each passing day, the trial felt more imminent. The entire greater Boston area was gearing up for what promised to be one for the ages. And on April 12th, the prosecution and defense gathered for the final pretrial hearing. 30 motions were entered, the majority of them standard procedure. But there was one that took center stage.

With each passing day, the trial felt more imminent. The entire greater Boston area was gearing up for what promised to be one for the ages. And on April 12th, the prosecution and defense gathered for the final pretrial hearing. 30 motions were entered, the majority of them standard procedure. But there was one that took center stage.

The prosecution requested for Karen Reed's lawyers to be prohibited from exacting a third-party culprit defense. That's when evidence is introduced to pin the blame on somebody other than the defendant. And this was a problem. After all, that was Yannetti and Jackson's entire defense. They immediately refuted the motion.

The prosecution requested for Karen Reed's lawyers to be prohibited from exacting a third-party culprit defense. That's when evidence is introduced to pin the blame on somebody other than the defendant. And this was a problem. After all, that was Yannetti and Jackson's entire defense. They immediately refuted the motion.

Then, Iannetti named the third-party culprits at the top of their list.

Then, Iannetti named the third-party culprits at the top of their list.

Yannetti went on to suggest that there was bad blood and jealousy between John O'Keefe and all three men he explicitly named, providing an exhaustive list of possible theories for their unique motivations to want John O'Keefe dead.

Yannetti went on to suggest that there was bad blood and jealousy between John O'Keefe and all three men he explicitly named, providing an exhaustive list of possible theories for their unique motivations to want John O'Keefe dead.

Prosecutor Lally thought it was all a stretch, to say the least.

Prosecutor Lally thought it was all a stretch, to say the least.

Perhaps surprisingly to some, Judge Canone ultimately did not rule on the third-party culprit motion. It was looking like it was up to the jury to decide if it's possible someone other than Karen Reid was involved in the death of John O'Keefe. And speaking of the jury, it was now time to seat them. But for a high-profile trial anticipated to last six weeks, it wouldn't be a cakewalk.

Perhaps surprisingly to some, Judge Canone ultimately did not rule on the third-party culprit motion. It was looking like it was up to the jury to decide if it's possible someone other than Karen Reid was involved in the death of John O'Keefe. And speaking of the jury, it was now time to seat them. But for a high-profile trial anticipated to last six weeks, it wouldn't be a cakewalk.