Karen Read, a Massachusetts woman accused of killing her police officer boyfriend in January 2022, was back in court for a hearing on her defense team’s motion to dismiss two out of three charges filed against her. Her attorneys argued that a mistrial in June should lead to the dismissal of the second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a fatal accident charges. They claimed that jurors had found her not guilty on two of the charges, and holding another trial would violate the principle of double jeopardy.
Prosecutors plan to retry Read in January and Judge Beverly J. Cannone listened to arguments from both sides without making a decision on the spot. Read arrived at the Norfolk County Superior Court in Dedham, Massachusetts, on Friday afternoon. As she walked up the courthouse steps, she faced dueling reactions from onlookers. Some cheered her on with signs saying “Free Karen” and “Framed,” while others chanted “Cop killer” repeatedly.
During the June trial, Read’s lawyers argued that the accusations against her were part of an elaborate cover-up and frame job. After weeks of trial and 26 hours of deliberation, the Norfolk County jury couldn’t reach a verdict, leading to a mistrial. Prosecutors claimed that after a night of drinking, an argument between Read and her boyfriend turned deadly when she allegedly backed into him with her SUV and left him to die in front of a Canton home during a snowstorm.
The case has sparked a debate among Boston-area locals, with some blaming Read for her boyfriend’s death and others believing she is innocent. O’Keefe’s brother expressed frustration with the situation, stating that she continues to live her life as if nothing ever happened despite the seriousness of the allegations against her.
The jurors from the June trial were described as “deeply divided” by their fundamental differences in opinions and state of mind. They were unable to reach a consensus, leading to the mistrial. The question of who killed John O’Keefe remains unanswered, with Read’s defense claiming that the family who owned the home where the victim was found dead framed her for his death.
The high-profile nature of the case has brought attention to the legal proceedings surrounding Read and the impact it could have on similar cases in the future. The trial is now set to continue, with Read facing the possibility of another trial in January. The outcome of the legal battle remains uncertain as both sides present their arguments in court.
