For the previous two years, the demise of Boston police Officer John O’Keefe, the next discovery of his physique outdoors of a Canton house on Jan. 29, 2022, and the investigation and trial that adopted have captured public consideration.

And on the middle of that has been Karen Learn, the lady who was courting O’Keefe on the time of his demise and who was arrested days afterward on costs of manslaughter, motorized vehicle murder and leaving the scene of a lethal crash.

Two narratives have emerged for the reason that arrest. The state alleges that Learn killed O’Keefe by backing into him with a automotive and leaving him to die. Learn’s protection staff argues that the police and different events have colluded to border Learn for O’Keefe’s homicide.

This is what to know and Karen Learn.

Who’s Karen Learn?

Learn is from Mansfield, Massachusetts. The 44-year-old was an adjunct professor at Bentley School, educating finance, however was fired from her job after she was arrested.

Learn and O’Keefe have been courting for 2 years, in line with Courtroom TV. Within the trial, the connection has been painted as tumultuous, with arguments about “what Learn fed O’Keefe’s two adopted youngsters, and that he witnessed a 2021 combat the couple had in Cape Cod over how O’Keefe handled her,” in line with the Related Press. A witness additionally testified that Learn turned offended after she thought O’Keefe had kissed one other girl throughout a trip to Aruba.

Prosecutors say Learn and O’Keefe had been consuming at a Canton bar with associates and acquaintances earlier than they received into an argument. They are saying she hit him along with her SUV outdoors the house of Brian Albert, who was internet hosting an after-party, shortly earlier than 12:30 a.m.

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However Learn’s attorneys say Learn dropped O’Keefe off at Albert’s house, and that O’Keefe was fatally crushed inside earlier than his physique was planted on the entrance garden. They are saying she was then framed for his demise.

On Feb. 1, 2022, Learn was arrested; she was freed on bail the subsequent day.

Why did the Karen Learn trial go viral?

The intrigue and scandal the case has generated will get the eye of the web world, as true crime YouTubers, TikTokers and web sleuths start following the Learn case.

Aidan Kearney, the Holden blogger often known as Turtleboy, lined the case extensively, and was a part of drawing consideration to the trial. Kearney is going through a number of counts of witness intimidation tied to allegations he harassed witnesses in Learn’s case. He has accused a few of the witnesses who testified – together with Brian Albert, the Boston officer who owned the house – of being true culprits within the case. Kearney has publicly posted his makes an attempt to contact a few of the witnesses, spoke of a lot of them utilizing crude language and introduced followers to “protests” outdoors their houses.

Extra:Decide bars Turtleboy from being current for some witnesses in Karen Learn homicide trial

In Could, Kearney was barred from masking a few of the testimony in individual, with the choose ruling his presence may have a “chilling” impact.

The trial started on April 21, with witness testimony starting on April 29.

Who’s Michael Proctor?

One other individual to know within the case is Michael Proctor.

The protection staff has targeted scrutiny on Proctor, a state police trooper who led the investigation of O’Keefe’s demise, accusing him of planting proof on the crime scene.

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In the course of the trial, Proctor was requested to learn textual content communications he had with others relating to Learn. These communications revealed what the protection mentioned is a bias in opposition to Learn within the midst of the investigation. Proctor was additionally revealed to have made crude jokes, together with about trying to find nude photos of the defendant when going via her cellphone.

It has even reached as much as the governor’s workplace, with Maura Healey denouncing the disparaging texts made by Proctor after they have been revealed throughout courtroom proceedings.

What has public response been to the trial?

Some Massachusetts residents have taken to the streets and protest the trial, calling for Learn to be freed and advocating for her innocence.

Earlier reviews by The Patriot Ledger and The Worcester Telegram & Gazette have been used on this report.