Attorneys disrupt hearing over phone records in Massachusetts

In a Massachusetts courtroom, a pre-trial hearing took a surprising turn when Karen Read and her lawyers interrupted the proceedings. The hearing was focusing on accusations against Aidan Kearney, a blogger known as Turtleboy, related to witness intimidation. Special Prosecutor Hank Brennan argued that Kearney’s phone records should be examined. He believes that communications between Kearney and Read could indicate Read's "consciousness of guilt" in her case. Read faces charges for the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, who she is accused of hitting with her vehicle during a snowstorm in January 2022. Brennan explained that he thinks Kearney used information from Read to harass and intimidate witnesses. He said they expect evidence to reveal a relationship where Read provided information to Kearney, which he then shared online. Kearney’s attorney, Timothy Bradl, argued that simply having communicated does not justify searching someone's phone, calling it a "chilling" approach. The judge has not yet decided on allowing access to the phone records. Meanwhile, prosecutors claim that Kearney appeared on video near a pizza shop related to a key witness in Read's case, which Kearney's lawyers denied was a threat. Although the judge rejected a motion to revoke Kearney’s bail, he ordered him to stay away from the family of the witness involved.