Firefighters responded to a fire in a condo complex in Stoughton, Massachusetts, on Thursday afternoon.
The fire was reported just before 2:30 p.m. at a condominium complex on Greenbrook Drive.
Aerial footage showed numerous fire engines an…
Massachusetts
Karen Read’s defense pushes back on prosecutors’ argument not to dismiss charges
What to Know
- Karen Read is accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, with her SUV during a snowstorm in Canton in January 2022
- A mistrial was declared in her case in July, and the prosecution had vowed to retry her
- The defense claims that several jurors revealed to them that the jury was in agreement that she was not guilty on the charges of second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death; they now want those charges dismissed
- Both sides will appear before the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts to make their arguments
The defense team in the high-profile Karen Read case submitted their response to the prosecution’s argument against dismissing some of the charges against her as both sides prepare to square off before Massachusetts’ highest court next month.
Read is accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, with her SUV during a snowstorm in Canton in January 2022, but after a mistrial was declared in the initial trial, her legal team filed to have the charges of second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death dismissed on grounds of double jeopardy. They claim that after the mistrial, several jurors revealed to them that the jury was actually in agreement that Read was not guilty on those two charges and were only in disagreement on the charge of manslaughter while driving under the influence.
The jury in Read’s first trial began deliberations on June 25 and expressed that they were deadlocked to the judge on three occasions – on June 28, and in two separate occasions on July 1, the day Judge Beverly Cannone ultimately declared the mistrial.
In the 77-page document filed with the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts last week, the prosecution argued its key points: that the judge’s declaration of a mistrial was reasonable given the information provided by the jury in notes on three separate occasions, that the defendant consented to the mistrial (as defense counsel was given an opportunity to speak about the declaration of a mistrial and pushed for that result), and that Read was never acquitted on any charges in formal court.
But in a reply brief, the defense argues that the Commonwealth did not satisfy its burden of establishing manifest necessity and that the claims that the jury made a unanimous conclusion after the trial should count as acquittal on the charges they did come to an argument over. They also note that the defense is entitled to a judicial inquiry.
“The defense independently maintains that a jury’s final, unanimous agreement that Ms. Read is not guilty constitutes an acquittal for Double Jeopardy purposes, and that the trustworthy and uncontradicted post-trial affidavits entitle her to a judicial inquiry on this issue,” the introduction to the brief reads.
Read the reply brief from Karen Read’s defense
American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts is backing Read’s argument to the SJC, filing a brief last week arguing that the court should toss Cannone’s decision and at least have her hold a hearing involving the evidence that the jury was in agreement.
Read the Karen Read prosecution’s full argument to the SJC
NBC10 Boston legal analyst Michael Coyne believes that Read’s argument won’t win out after the Supreme Judicial Court hears arguments in the case on Nov. 6.
Read is scheduled for a for retrial in January.
More on the Karen Read case
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.
Man sentenced to life in prison in deadly South Shore Plaza shooting
A man convicted of murder after a deadly shooting in a Massachusetts mall in 2022 was sentenced Thursday to life in prison.
Dijoun Beasley, a 26-year-old from Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood, was fatally shot at South Shore Plaza in Braintree on Jan. 22, 2022.
Julius Hammond-Desir of Maynard, who was 19 at the time, was arrested on a murder charge. The Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office said Tuesday that a jury had convicted him of first-degree murder, unlawfully carrying a firearm and unlawfully carrying a loaded firearm.
Prosecutors said Hammond-Desir killed Beasley after encountering him in the Forever 21 store. Surveillance video showed a brief exhange between the two inside the store and the shooting itself. Hammond-Desire was also seen on video fleeing the mall while holding what appeared to be a gun in his waistband.
The mall was evacuated and those still inside were ordered to shelter in place until it was safe to come out.
Beasley was shot in the head and died a day later.
The district attorney’s office said Hammond-Desir was sentenced Thursday to a mandatory term of life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years on the murder charge. He was sentenced to another 5 years on related firearms charges.
Hasbro to layoff about 100 employees as it considers potential move to Boston
Hasbro, one of the world’s best known toy companies, is preparing to lay off dozens of employees as they consider a potential move to Boston.
A company spokesperson says about 100 employees are being let go as part of a restructuring plan announced earlier this week. About half of those layoffs are in Rhode Island, where Hasbro is currently headquartered.
State leaders are trying to keep the company in Pawtucket or at least somewhere in the state.
The Boston Business Journal reported last month that Hasbro is eyeing a move to Boston. They said the company has already toured several locations in the city as it looks for a space to better serve their team and business needs, about 200,000 to 250,000 square feet in all.
“As Hasbro continues to evolve, we’re exploring options for our global headquarters to make sure it is a space that can best serve our employees, partners, and business needs for years to come,” Bertie Thomson, the company’s chief communications officer, said in a statement at the time. “We’re taking our time, evaluating all options that can best support our team’s creativity and innovation, and will share updates on our progress. Regardless of the outcome and location, we remain committed to our history – not leaving it behind, but building on it.”
Hasbro has been located in Rhode Island for over 100 years. It was founded in 1923 by brothers Henry, Hillel and Herman Hassenfeld. The company had said five years ago that it was in the process of evaluating several options for corporate headquarters.
The company’s move to Massachusetts could strengthen business in the state. Hasbro and its subsidiaries earned $5 billion in net revenues last year and employs 5,500 people worldwide. Hundreds of employees work for Hasbro in Rhode Island, though the exact number is not known.
Hasbro isn’t the only toy company pursuing Boston as its next step. Lego is set to move its headquarters to the Back Bay next year.
Riders remain in critical condition after motorcycle crash in Swansea
Three motorcyclists remain in critical condition after a crash on Route 195 westbound in Swansea, Massachusetts, on Saturday.
The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office said Massachusetts State Police found three riders – a 36-y…
Budget chief wants to direct $1B toward MBTA, transportation improvements
The House budget chief wants to direct $1 billion in surplus income surtax funds towards transportation investments, mainly MBTA capital investments, he told business leaders at an event in Boston.
“We have nearly a billion dollars in su…
