In Dedham, Massachusetts, the second trial for Karen Read continues, with the jury posing questions to the judge regarding evidence and charges. The trial, which began over a month ago, has now entered its second full day of jury deliberations. Karen Read, aged 45, faces accusations of fatally striking her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, with her car outside a party in the Boston suburbs in January 2022, and subsequently leaving him to perish in the snow. She is charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter, and fleeing the scene.
The defense, led by Read’s attorneys, argues that O’Keefe was assaulted, bitten by a dog, and left outside a Canton residence as part of a police-conspired plan to incriminate Read. The current trial is a continuation of a previous one which ended in a mistrial last year. During this ongoing trial, the jury has queried Judge Beverly Cannone, who also presided over the earlier trial, about the timeframe mentioned in the charge of operating a vehicle under the influence, among other evidentiary issues.
Defense attorney Alan Jackson emphasized Read’s innocence in his closing arguments, claiming that there was “no collision” and accusing the police of orchestrating a cover-up to protect fellow officers while deflecting the truth from the jury. He particularly criticized former Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor, who was dismissed after distributing inappropriate messages about Read, thereby casting doubt on the integrity of the investigation. Jackson pointed to Proctor’s handling of evidence and failure to investigate other potential suspects, suggesting a personal vendetta against Read.
Jackson focused on Brian Higgins, a federal agent who had been in communication with Read, implying Higgins initiated the events at the Canton party where O’Keefe was allegedly assaulted. The attorney highlighted inconsistencies in the investigation, such as the unexamined injuries O’Keefe sustained.
In contrast, prosecutor Hank Brennan contended that Read left O’Keefe deliberately to die after a heated argument exacerbated by alcohol consumption. Brennan argued that Read’s blood-alcohol level exceeded the legal limit and cited evidence from her SUV showing erratic driving, likely implicating negligence. Brennan contested the conspiracy theory suggested by the defense and emphasized the physical evidence, such as pieces of Read’s taillight found at the scene and O’Keefe’s DNA on her vehicle.
Brennan addressed the controversy around Proctor, urging the jury to disregard his absence from the witness stand, asserting that his testimony was unnecessary due to the weight of the remaining evidence.
Outside the courtroom, a dedicated group of Read’s supporters, predominantly women dressed in pink, gathered daily to show their solidarity, expressing concerns about the judicial system’s fairness. They have rallied since before the initial trial, hoping their presence might inspire reforms.
Karen Read is facing multiple serious charges, with second-degree murder bearing the harshest potential sentence of life imprisonment. Other charges include manslaughter under the influence of alcohol, involuntary manslaughter, and leaving the scene of an accident, carrying prison terms ranging from 2 1/2 to 20 years, depending on the conviction. As deliberations progress, the final verdict will have significant repercussions.