SWANSEA, Mass. (WLNE) — Advocates rallied across New England Sunday ahead the start of Karen Read’s second trial. Supporters gathered in Swansea to show they’re behind Read, who was accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, in 2022. “Karen’s innocent, we al l know this, it’s been proven,” Fall River resident Cathy Roies said. The first trial ended in a mistrial when the jury deadlocked, and jury selection for the new trial begins April 1. “I believe Karen Read has been framed, and I believe that we need to spread awareness to let people know that she is being persecuted, not prosecuted,” Swansea resident Stacy Raposa said. Read’s defense has argued that O’Keefe was killed inside the home of a fellow officer, then dragged outside and left there. Meanwhile, the prosecution said nothing indicates that whatsoever. ABC6 legal analyst Ken Schreiber said in September that Read’s team may have the edge in a second trial. “It’s always good when you get a preview, so you’ve got everybody under oath, you know that each and every witness that testified at the first trial,” he said. “You may not have known what exactly he or she was going to say before they said it, now you know.” Read supporters said they are hopeful for the new trial. “It’s way further than the nation, it’s worldwide,” Raposa said. “The world is watching and I just hope that this is going to set precedents for future trials down the road.” Categories: Massachusetts, News ...read more read less