A lawyer who represented Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger will prosecute Karen Read, whose murder trial in the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend ended with a hung jury, when the case is retried,

Ms. Read will receive the dignity and fairness that every defendant deserves in our criminal justice system,” Hank Brennan said Wednesday.

Norfolk County prosecutors adding Hank Brennan, an independent lawyer, to lead the prosecution of Karen Read during a second trial represents an unusual step in a case without obvious conflicts of interest, experts say.