Today, we’re diving into the latest developments in the Karen Read case that has been unfolding here in Dedham, Massachusetts. If you’ve been keeping up with local news, you’d know that Karen Read stands accused of murdering her boyfriend, a Boston police officer, in January 2022. However, the case has just taken an unexpected turn. After a week of intense deliberation, the jury has announced that they can’t reach a unanimous verdict.
A brief explainer here: in a trial, a unanimous decision is necessary for a guilty or not guilty verdict. This means every single jury member must agree. However, this jury found themselves at a deadlock. Some jurors believed the evidence was sufficient to prove Karen Read’s guilt, while others didn’t consider the evidence up to the mark. The disagreements were so profound that they concluded they were never going to find common ground.
The jury foreman made it clear in his note to the judge that their division wasn’t due to a lack of effort. Instead, it was a matter of individual principles and deeply-held convictions. Judge Beverly Cannone acknowledged the jury’s stalemate and declared a mistrial.
Despite the serious nature of the trial, there have been dramatic moments and surprising revelations over the two-month period. The case even attracted a crowd of supporters for Karen Read, who cheered her on outside the courthouse every day.
BREAKING: The jury failed to reach a verdict in the trial of #KarenRead, who was charged with killing her Boston police officer boyfriend by hitting him with an SUV. Latest in the case: https://t.co/6MQIkz6lUE #breakingnews pic.twitter.com/C0P5s9fPAL
— NewsNation (@NewsNation) July 1, 2024
To recap, Karen Read was accused of running over her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, with her SUV, and then leaving him outside a house in Canton. She was charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter while under the influence. If convicted, she would have faced life in prison.
On the night of the incident, it’s alleged that Read and O’Keefe had been on a bar crawl, with Read having seven drinks in just about an hour and a half. Things spiraled from there, leading to the tragic event.
The trial took another turn when Read’s lawyers suggested a theory that she was framed by law enforcement covering up for O’Keefe’s friends, who they claimed were the real culprits. This theory prompted hundreds of supporters to rally for Karen Read’s innocence.
With the mistrial, it remains unclear whether the prosecution will attempt to retry the case. Karen Read’s advocates believe the charges should be dropped altogether.
