Hank Brennan, specially appointed prosecutor for the Karen Read trial, seems to be afraid of Drs. Wolfe & Rentschler from ARCCA - who were hired during what looks to be a federal probe into the Norfolk County District Attorney's office (NCDAO). Hank claims the feds told the NCDAO that the investigation is now closed with no indictments. Did he forget that the USAO arrested former police officer Matthew Farwell for the murder of Sandra Burchmore after Karen Read's first trial? The feds weren't investigating the death of Officer John O'Keefe, per se, as much as we'd like to see a few others in cuffs. They used a loophole to arrest Farwell by calling Sandra a "witness" against Farwell for his reprehensible behavior and actions toward her.
Hank seems hell bent on depriving Karen of most of her expert witnesses. He keeps crying about the Commonwealth (CW) being entitled to a fair trial and how it shouldn't be a "trial by ambush." First, it's the defendant, Karen Read, that has a constitutionally protected right to a fair trial. Did you skip those classes in law school? Second, from where I'm sitting, the only side that's been "ambushed" is the defense when an inverted video was sprung on them in the middle of the first trial. The fact that videos kept trickling into discovery to the defense as late as a month ago speaks volumes, IMO.
The defense has challenged just about every so-called expert being called by the CW but those challenges have been shot down by Judge Bev every single time with no hearings of any sort. Hank subjected Dr. Marie Russell to a very contentious 2 day hearing earlier this year and is set to do another regarding ARCCA before the trial starts. The judge denied pro hoc vice status for on attorney Karen wanted to add to her team and granted the CW's motion to deny one of Karen's expert witnesses that would've talked about how crappy the investigation into John O'Keefe's death was. Bev seems to think that regular people will just know how investigations of this nature are supposed to be conducted.
The jury from trial 1 didn't seem to "just know" much and was denied asking any questions by the foreperson. I sure hope Bev makes it crystal clear this go 'round that the jurors can indeed send her questions during deliberations and that they can fill out the verdict forms for each count individually. And if anybody thinks this trial will be shorter without ADA Adam Lally's interminable what if anything regarding snow and high-top tables, think again. One of Hank's experts has a 140 slide show presentation. While this feels like it may be as nap inducing as Lally's direct examinations, the interspersal of Hank's cringe worthy whining is sure to ruin any dozing.
I didn't think it would be possible to look any more forward to the defense's cross examinations as I did in the first trial yet here we are. These new "experts" Hank found will be eviscerated by Robert Alessi, ESQ, a new addition to Read's team. It seems he'll compliment the "ninja" precision of David Yanetti's questions and Alan Jackson's "smooth as buttah" arguments. I also anticipate the lighter touch of Eliza Little as she brings all the damn receipts. The addition of former non-deliberating juror from trial one, Victoria George, ESQ, is a delightful chef's kiss of a "F U" on top of this powerhouse of a team.