Mistrial Averted in Karen Read Trial After Prosecution Admits Evidence Error

The Karen Read trial took an unexpected turn Monday when the defense successfully argued for a mistrial. Defense attorney Robert Alessi pointed out that the prosecution had presented a sweatshirt with holes, claiming they were from the crime. However, Alessi revealed that the holes were actually made by a prosecution criminalist. Special prosecutor Hank Brennan admitted to this mistake. Judge Beverly Cannone resolved the matter by allowing evidence of the criminalist's actions and instructing the jury to adjust their understanding. "The purposeful intention of having the jury conclude that these holes could have come from events on January 29th of 2022, when in fact the Commonwealth well knows from its own documents, from its own criminalist, that those holes in the back were caused by their criminalist as part of their examination and sampling of the hoodie," Alessi stated. The judge's decision prevented a mistrial, ensuring the trial continues with corrected information. This incident underscores the significance of evidence integrity in legal proceedings.