Paula Borrows

From Law & Crime, I'm Paula Borrows, and this is Karen. Outside Norfolk County Superior Court, on the brisk morning of April 29, 2024, a massive crowd was forming. The Free Karen Reid Movement, sequestered to their sanctioned area, were gathered, sporting pink shirts and holding handmade signs showing their support on this fateful spring day, the first day of Karen Reid's trial.

From Law & Crime, I'm Paula Borrows, and this is Karen. Outside Norfolk County Superior Court, on the brisk morning of April 29, 2024, a massive crowd was forming. The Free Karen Reid Movement, sequestered to their sanctioned area, were gathered, sporting pink shirts and holding handmade signs showing their support on this fateful spring day, the first day of Karen Reid's trial.

Inside the cramped, wood-paneled courtroom, a jury of 12 was seated, six women and six men, holding the fate of one of their peers in their hands. Judge Beverly Cannone opened the day emphasizing that the future of the defendant, Karen Reid, hung in the balance, and that their attention to every detail would be crucial to bringing about justice in this case, however they interpret justice.

Inside the cramped, wood-paneled courtroom, a jury of 12 was seated, six women and six men, holding the fate of one of their peers in their hands. Judge Beverly Cannone opened the day emphasizing that the future of the defendant, Karen Reid, hung in the balance, and that their attention to every detail would be crucial to bringing about justice in this case, however they interpret justice.

Attorney Jennifer Roman says this was not an enviable position to be in.

Attorney Jennifer Roman says this was not an enviable position to be in.

A lot in this case could be considered an understatement.

A lot in this case could be considered an understatement.

With no guarantee of a unanimous verdict.

With no guarantee of a unanimous verdict.

Making the ultimate decision more difficult for them, despite the deafening buzz around the case, the two people at the heart of it remained somewhat of an enigma.

Making the ultimate decision more difficult for them, despite the deafening buzz around the case, the two people at the heart of it remained somewhat of an enigma.

And the lack of information about John O'Keefe's cause of death created another perplexing hurdle this jury would have to maneuver.

And the lack of information about John O'Keefe's cause of death created another perplexing hurdle this jury would have to maneuver.

The jury was looking at a projected six to eight weeks to get to the bottom of that question. In opening statements, the prosecution and defense could not have presented more paradoxical arguments. Prosecutor Adam Lally approached the stand first, wearing a black suit with a checkered tie. Karen sat between her attorneys, David Iannetti and Alan Jackson, as Adam presented his side's position.

The jury was looking at a projected six to eight weeks to get to the bottom of that question. In opening statements, the prosecution and defense could not have presented more paradoxical arguments. Prosecutor Adam Lally approached the stand first, wearing a black suit with a checkered tie. Karen sat between her attorneys, David Iannetti and Alan Jackson, as Adam presented his side's position.

but that couldn't be further from the way David Yannetti saw things.

but that couldn't be further from the way David Yannetti saw things.

Keen ears noticed that omitted from Yannetti's opening statement was any explicit mention of who the someone else could be. But all that was required was enough reasonable doubt that it was not Karen. John O'Keefe's brother Paul was the first person called to the stand.

Keen ears noticed that omitted from Yannetti's opening statement was any explicit mention of who the someone else could be. But all that was required was enough reasonable doubt that it was not Karen. John O'Keefe's brother Paul was the first person called to the stand.