Norfolk DA appoints attorney to lead retrial of Karen Read

Retrial scheduled for Nov. 1

Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey has appointed Assistant District Attorney John Bradley to lead the retrial of Karen Read. Read was convicted in 2007 of killing her husband, Marine Major Matthew Read, but the conviction was overturned on appeal in 2012.

Bradley has extensive experience in homicide cases

Bradley has been with the Norfolk DA’s office since 2004 and has extensive experience prosecuting homicide cases. He has also served as the chief of the DA’s Major Crimes Unit.

Morrissey said he is confident that Bradley will do an excellent job leading the prosecution’s retrial of Read.

“John Bradley is an experienced and skilled prosecutor who is well-respected by his peers,” Morrissey said. “I am confident that he will provide the leadership and expertise we need to secure a just outcome in this case.”

The retrial is scheduled to begin on Nov. 1.

Read’s conviction was overturned on appeal

Read was convicted of murder in 2007 and sentenced to life in prison. However, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court overturned her conviction in 2012, ruling that the judge had erred in allowing prosecutors to introduce evidence of Read’s extramarital affair.

The SJC also ruled that the judge had erred in instructing the jury on the issue of self-defense.

Read has always maintained that she killed her husband in self-defense.