New twists and turns in the Karen Read case have refocused public attention on a case that has proved to be controversial. In a recent development, the defense has asked for the indictments against Read to be dismissed citing the existence of a federal investigation into the Norfolk District Attorney’s office, and accusing Norfolk DA Michael Morrissey of unethical conduct. Judge Beverly Cannone has sealed the defense’s motion until a January 18th hearing, referring to the need to “protect the integrity of the federal grand jury process.” Some news outlets however, obtained the motion before the judge impounded the paperwork.
The defense’s motion accuses the DA’s office of framing Read and withholding information about a federal investigation of the case. The motion mentions six letters dated May to November 2023 between the DA’s office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI. The defense say that Norfolk County DA Michael failed to disclose a letter to the Office of Professional Responsibility at the U.S. Department of Justice in which he stated that he was aware that multiple state witnesses in the case had “‘received subpoenas to appear before a Federal Grand Jury.’” According to the defense, the DA’s office had said in December that they had no “confirmation about whether any witnesses” in the Read case had testified before a federal grand jury.
Read’s defense previously criticized the Norfolk DA Michael Morrissey for his statements about witness intimidation in the case, claiming they have tainted the jury pool. The DA’s office has also invoked conflicts of interests in the U.S. Attorney’s office and asked to have the investigation moved to another state.
The Karen Read case is a case that has played out in public even before it started. The prosecution says it has a substantial amount of evidence in the case of Read, who has been charged with the second degree murder of her police officer boyfriend. Read’s defense has claimed she was framed by her boyfriend’s police officer friends and the community. The case has also led to charges of witness intimidation against the blogger “Turtleboy” who has defended Karen Read.
The involvement of the public can often be a critical factor in how a criminal case plays out. For anyone charged with a serious crime, it is smart to be aware of the potential impact of the case in the news. At Dhar Law, LLP, our criminal defense attorneys have decades of experience defending serious cases that affect the reputations of the defendants and impact the wider community. A dedicated criminal defense strategy involves holding the prosecution and law enforcement to high standards of evidence and procedure in every case, no matter how high profile. If you or someone you know has been accused of a serious crime, please contact us today to learn more about our criminal defense attorneys.
