The jury foreman within the Karen Learn retrial is looking on the FBI to tear open the case and begin from scratch.
“There are such a lot of holes that must be stuffed,” Juror #1 instructed the Boston Herald Tuesday. “Now that the FBI is aware of Karen Learn isn’t a suspect, one thing occurred, and a number of jurors really feel that method.”
A number of jurors within the homicide trial of Learn have come ahead to remark in regards to the case since a jury returned a not responsible verdict.
Learn, 45, was charged with second-degree homicide by authorities who stated she deliberately hit Boston police officer John O’Keefe together with her automotive after dropping him off exterior a celebration following an evening of ingesting within the Massachusetts suburbs.
The high-profile case culminated in a not responsible verdict on homicide, manslaughter and leaving the scene fees. The jury discovered Learn responsible of working a car whereas beneath the affect.
Juror #1, who first spoke to the Herald solely Friday, is now urging the FBI to “get justice for John O’Keefe.” It has already been introduced that federal investigators did look into the net of police connections to the case and didn’t cost anybody.
However the foreman, who requested that his title be withheld, stated that’s not ok.
“Nobody native must be concerned within the investigation,” he stated Tuesday. “It was lazy police work … and we must always begin some kind of investigation of what went on in that home.”
The FBI in Boston “declined remark” on the juror’s attraction for a brand new probe.
Because the foreman has already stated, the truth that investigators didn’t swarm the home on the homicide scene on 34 Fairview Street in Canton throughout a nor’easter is a obtrusive “crimson flag” on this homicide case.
The juror, a 45-year-old married father of three who grew up in Boston, says he’s haunted by the idea that “one thing went on inside that home.” He doesn’t wish to hand over after greater than two months put into this trial.
“We simply want to seek out justice for John,” the foreman added, “and get his mom some peace.”
Investigator, jurors converse out after verdict
A number of jurors and the lead investigator have spoken out in regards to the case in aftermath of not responsible verdict.
The trial centered partially on lead investigator Michael Proctor, who protection attorneys described as biased in opposition to Learn from the start. The Massachusetts State Police trial board discovered Proctor responsible of sending crude and defamatory textual content messages about Learn whereas main the investigation into her. He was fired and has drawn ire from Learn supporters who consider he performed a key function in a cover-up to border her.
Proctor instructed NBC’s “Dateline” that the thought he’s corrupt and framed Learn is a “ridiculous” accusation. He particularly stated an accusation that he cracked Learn’s taillight to make it appear to be she backed into O’Keefe is “completely not” true.
“I snigger as a result of it’s such a ridiculous accusation,” Proctor instructed this system. “There’s not one piece of proof or truth to assist that as a result of it didn’t occur.”
The decide within the case introduced through courtroom papers that the jurors’ names could be sealed from public view resulting from security considerations. However one of many jurors, who recognized himself solely as “Jason” in an interview with TMZ, stated he didn’t consider Learn collided with O’Keefe. He additionally stated he didn’t suppose investigators planted taillight items on the scene to border Learn.
“I don’t actually know if there was a cover-up or not. I do know that’s the large conspiracy about it however I don’t actually know. All I do know is there was a whole lot of holes of their investigation,” the juror stated.
One other juror, Paula Prado, instructed native information stations her thoughts modified in regards to the case over the course of the final three weeks. At first, she thought Learn was responsible of manslaughter, however her opinion modified because the case progressed.
“Because the weeks handed by, I simply realized there was too many holes that we couldn’t fill. And there’s nothing that put her on the scene in our opinion, in addition to simply dropping John O’Keefe off,” Prado instructed media.
A 3rd juror, Janet Jimenez, instructed WCVB-TV that she modified her thoughts about Learn’s guilt throughout deliberations. Jimenez instructed WCVB she felt there have been holes within the investigation, and finally she determined Learn was not responsible.
“I hoped that my fellow jurors may assist me undergo all of this, so I went in with a really open thoughts however positively leaning towards that she was responsible,” she stated.
Massachusetts State Police stated in an announcement that it extends its “sincerest condolences to the family members of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe.” The assertion stated the occasions of the final three years have “challenged” the division to evaluation its actions and enhance accountability and oversight.
“Below my course as colonel, the state police has, and can proceed to, enhance in these regards. Our focus stays on delivering glorious police companies that mirror the worth of professionalism and keep public belief,” Colonel Geoffrey Noble stated within the assertion.
The jurors, state police and Proctor are usually not the primary to talk out in regards to the verdict. Upon leaving courtroom, Learn instructed a crowd of reporters and onlookers: “Nobody has fought tougher for justice for John O’Keefe than I’ve.”
Her father, Invoice Learn, stated that he was “grateful that it’s over.” He added: “We at all times knew Karen was harmless. I’m glad she is freed from this mess. Only a weight off our shoulders. The facility of the state is immense, and we had been in a position to struggle it.”
Among the key witnesses within the trial additionally launched a joint assertion wherein they referred to as the not responsible ruling a “devastating miscarriage of justice.”
The joint assertion was issued by a number of folks together with Brian Albert, who owned the house the place the celebration came about, and Jennifer McCabe, Albert’s sister-in-law, who was with Learn and O’Keefe on the night time of O’Keefe’s loss of life.
Norfolk County District Lawyer Michael Morrissey stated solely: “The jury has spoken.”
Joseph Dwinell of the Boston Herald and Patrick Whittle of the Related Press contributed to this report.
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