A controversial Massachusetts writer known as “Turtleboy” is facing several felony charges, including witness intimidation, for his outspoken defense of a woman on trial for allegedly killing her boyfriend.
Prosecutors allege Aidan Kearney sent “harassing, threatening and intimidating” messages to witnesses and investigators in the criminal case against Karen Read, who is accused of assaulting John O’Keefe, a Boston Police officer.
Kearney runs a blog, where he covers the case — among other local news — like a reporter. He was also vocal in his protests in defense of Read, but prosecutors claimed his activism crossed the line.
His attorney told the judge his client “vehemently denies” the charges when Kearney pleaded not guilty, saying his client’s opinions are protected by the First Amendment.
Kearney was handcuffed and flanked by two court officers as he listened to the Norfolk County prosecution detail the charges against him during a 45-minute court appearance on Wednesday.
Prosecutors allege Kearney “showed up” at witnesses’ children’s sporting events and “made a scene,” harassed and photographed witnesses at their homes and jobs and directed his blog followers to do the same.
Prosecutors read several posts Kearney allegedly wrote on his blog, which included more than 160 entries about an alleged cover-up in the Read murder trial, as well as video segments and YouTube messages allegedly containing profanity that allegedly included “threats against witnesses and their friends .”
The prosecution detailed the specific allegations for more than 30 minutes.
Kearney’s attorney identified his client as a “news person who has the right to cover the story” during a court appearance Wednesday.
Aidan Kearney, aka Turtleboy, wears a “Free Karen Read” sweatshirt during his trial on charges of witness intimidation in the Read murder case in Stoughton County Court.Boston Globe via Getty Images
“When I read the statement read by the prosecution, I saw the opinion. I don’t see a threat,” Kearney’s lawyer said in court. “If any of his statements violate YouTube’s policies, they can take them all down.”
Kearney was released on personal recognizance on the condition that he have no contact with people connected to the Read murder case, including Massachusetts State Police investigators.
“Turtleboy” posted a photo on X, formerly Twitter, with his arms raised and a “Read Karen Free” hoodie after he left court.
John O’Keefe, who was allegedly run over by Karen Read. WBZ
The next morning, he accused law enforcement of making threats in a tweet.
“Men with guns showed up at my house, tore it apart, took my computer and phone and handcuffed me in full view of my kids as they boarded the school bus,” Kearney tweeted. “I am not guilty of threats.”
Kearney faces multiple counts of intimidating a witness, jury or law enforcement officer, as well as one count of conspiracy.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Prosecutors said Kearney sent “harassing, threatening and intimidating” messages to witnesses.WBZ
The background of the murder case against Karen Read
The criminal case against controversial blogger “Turtleboy” has taken its own life but is a circus sideshow to the murder case against Read, which has gone just as wild.
In January 2022, Read allegedly assaulted O’Keefe, whom he was dating at the time, and left him unconscious in the yard of a home in Canton, Massachusetts, a town southwest of Boston.
He was charged with second-degree murder, non-vehicular homicide while impaired and leaving the scene of an accident and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Kearney’s blog has more than 160 entries on the closing of the Karen Read case. Boston Globe via Getty Images
But his defense team argued O’Keefe was beaten in the home’s basement after he was dropped off at a home owned at the time by a fellow Boston Police officer, Brian Albert, and the family dog, a German shepherd, attacked and injured him. right hand.
Kearney told Fox News Digital in the X message, “It says that instead of looking to find the killer of John O’Keefe, this detective, who is a close family friend of the Albert family, dedicated time and resources to charge me with witness intimidation for asking questions that they never.
“It’s a sad day for America when our police force is armed against journalists to protect cop killers.”
Kearney said it “speaks volumes” that prosecutors spent time prosecuting him on witness intimidation instead of finding O’Keefe’s killer. WBZ
The case has drawn national attention amid defense allegations of a wide-ranging cover-up that included law enforcement allegedly working to frame Read for O’Keefe’s death, a claim authorities vehemently deny.
Part of the alleged protection is the 22 months that have passed without going to trial, his lawyer said.
“Any suggestion that we’re desperately withholding evidence from the defense because we’re afraid of what it might show is absolutely ridiculous,” Norfolk Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally said during a September court appearance.
He said the evidence continues to be tested at the state crime lab.
Kearney said she was handcuffed while watching her children as they boarded the school bus. WBZ
“When this round of testing is over, we will definitely take the items and make them available to the lawyers,” he added.
Read’s lawyer, David Yannetti, said during a court appearance last month, “There will be no conviction because the evidence proves he is innocent.
“No jury anywhere would vote to convict him of a crime he did not commit.”
Norfolk County DA’s own words
Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey posted a video message targeting “conspiracy theories” in August while denouncing the allegations against Michael Proctor, a state police trooper accused of planting evidence outside a residence.
Karen Read in court with her lawyer David Yannetti. MediaNews Group via Getty Images
“Innuendo is not evidence. A false narrative is not evidence,” Morrissey said in the video statement.
“We try people in court and not on the internet and for a reason. The Internet has no rules of evidence. The Internet has no penalties for perjury.
“And the internet doesn’t know all the facts. Conspiracy theories are not evidence.”
The judge ordered prosecutors to complete the DNA testing by November 3 and set a two-week deadline for the government to provide information detailing the police search of Canton’s home.
The defense is also seeking video footage from a Nest camera in the home on the night of January 29, 2022, but the homeowner has claimed the camera was not available or recorded.
Reading is next in court Dec. 8.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
