A Massachusetts jury in the Karen Read murder trial will continue deliberations for a third full day on Wednesday.
As previously noted by CrimeOnline, Read, a 45-year-old former adjunct professor, has entered a plea of not guilty concerning the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend, John O’Keefe. Authorities claim Read struck O’Keefe with her Lexus SUV amid a snowstorm on January 29, 2022, during a house party in Canton, Massachusetts.
On Tuesday, the jury submitted on note cards to Judge Beverly Cannone, including the following:
- Are video clips of Karen’s interviews evidence? How can we consider them?
- Does convicting guilty on a sub-charge (example offense 2 number 5) convict the overall charge?
- What is the timeframe for the OUI charge, offense 002 section 5? OUI at 12:45 or OUI at 5 a.m.
Boston 25 News indicates that Cannone declared after lunch that the jury had posed a fourth question, inquiring, “If we find not guilty on two charges but cannot reach a consensus on one charge, is the jury considered hung on all three charges or just that one charge?”
Cannone said the question was “theoretical” and “not something she can answer.”
The jurors’ deliberation occurs nearly a year following the initial trial against Read, which ended in a mistrial due to the jury’s inability to achieve a unanimous decision on the charges.
The defense argued that O’Keefe was beaten up at fellow police officer Brian Albert’s residence, attacked by a German Shepherd named Chloe, and left outside of the Canton home during a blizzard.
Prosecutor Hank Brennan, however, focused on Read’s actions on the morning in question and the physical evidence in the case. He pointed out that Read, intoxicated and angry that the relationship was ending, struck O’Keefe with her vehicle and left him to die.
Read has pleaded not guilty to charges that include second-degree murder, vehicle manslaughter while driving under the influence, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.
Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: Karen Read/LinkedIn and John O’Keefe/Boston Police Department]
