Somewhat surprisingly, the retrial ofCommonwealth v. Karen Readhas successfully empaneled 16 jurors after two weeks of trying.
With the goal of putting a total of 18 in the box before Opening Arguments can begin.
(Just to clarify: 12 will actually decide the case, but they commonly empanel a few spares.
Especially in a case like this that should go a couple of months at least.
Which might not sound like a lot of progress.
Which makes this a uniquely bad time for the defendant to keep doing what she’s been doing.
Which is talking into microphones.
Lots and lots of microphones.
And it’s been a bad idea every time it’s been tried.
I don’t know who’s advising Read on this.
Presumably her defense team.
I watched this series and virtually nobody in it comes off well.
“Just slightly better acted.
History is full of such examples.
A simple AI search would’ve given her a half dozen examples.
The Salem Witch Hunts.
The Scopes Monkey Trial.
Hell, Andy Dufresne inShawshankand Ralph Macchio inMy Cousin Vinnywould’ve worked just fine as examples of unfair prosecution.
Not even the people who agreed with the jury’s verdict think OJdidn’tmurder those people.
They just believe jury nullification was justified due to the prior behavior of the LAPD.
That guy’s just like me!”
Meaning you’re a murderer too.
There’s simply no other way anyone is going to interpret what you’re saying.
Which is as good an incentive as any for Read to stop saying these things.
Or anything, for that matter.
Or words to that effect.
In fact, I’d just tell her, “Take it easy, Champ.
Why don’t you stop talking for a while?”
Next week is going to be wild around here.
