Defense Pushes for Venue Change in Hingham Apple Store Crash Trial

Boston – The man charged in the November 2022 crash that killed 65‑year‑old construction worker Kevin Bradley at the Apple Store in Hingham’s Derby Street Shops is now asking the judge to relocate his trial. Bradley Rein, a 34‑year‑old Hingham resident, says the swirl of news reports and the shopping center’s high‑profile status would make it nearly impossible to seat an impartial jury.

During a hearing on Oct. 20, Rein’s attorney warned the court that “the idea that somebody has been there, shopped there, and then can be fair and impartial is a very difficult pill to swallow.” The defense’s argument hinges on the belief that locals, who see the crash site almost daily, would have formed opinions long before jurors are selected.

Prosecutors, however, pointed to a recent precedent: the Lindsay Clancy case, which was tried in the same courtroom. In that instance, the defense’s request for a venue change was denied, and the state argues the same logic should apply here. “The coverage has been fair and accurate, not salacious,” a prosecutor told the bench, citing case law that a venue shift requires more than just publicity.

Rein stayed out of the camera’s view while his counsel made the motion, a silent presence that underscores how tense the proceedings have become. The hearing also touched on a disputed motion demanding the prosecution spell out its theory of the case in writing, and a lingering question about Rein’s competency after a failed breath‑test that the defense linked to an odd mouth‑wash reaction.

Although a judge earlier found Rein competent to stand trial, the ruling noted that competency could be revisited if new evidence emerges. The case, now four years old, is slated to resume on Nov. 13, with the venue decision likely influencing how the rest of the trial unfolds.

Both sides acknowledge the stakes: the community still mourns Bradley’s death, and nearly two dozen other victims remain scarred by the crash. Whether a new courtroom can offer a fresh start for justice remains to be seen.