BOSTON – Over the past two years, Karen Read, who is charged with murder in the death of her boyfriend, has conducted a number of interviews with magazines and national television networks. In their latest filing, the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office is asking for the unredacted audio recordings, notes and texts between Read and a reporter.
Prosecutors are focusing on Read’s 2023 interview with Boston Magazine. According to the documents, the three-part interview consisted of two recorded sessions and a third off-the-record conversation that was not recorded but notes were taken.
“Tactical confessions outside court”
In the filing, the state alleged that Read “made tactical and repeated admissions outside of court” regarding her activities the night her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, died. The filing suggested they were seeking more information about how much alcohol she consumed that fateful night.
Steven Senne / AP
In September, the Norfolk District Attorney’s office announced a special prosecutor, Hank Brennanwas hired to reshape their case for a new trial. “As a result, he’s trying to find every possible angle that will help them next time,” said Boston attorney Phil Tracy, who has no ties to the Karen Read case.
Tracy said Massachusetts does not have the same legal protections for off-the-record conversations and originating information as other states. Essentially, conversations between Read and the reporter are not guaranteed to remain private. Tracy said that since Read has spoken publicly several times, her off-the-record conversations are less likely to remain private.
“Under no circumstances would I have allowed her to talk about the case and the factors that played a role in it,” Tracy advised. “She should have kept quiet.”
Who is Karen Read
Read, 44, is accused of hitting her Boston police officer boyfriend John O’Keefe with her SUV outside a Canton home and leaving him to die in a snowstorm in… January 2022. Read says she is the victim of a cover-up by law enforcement and several others and has pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter, manslaughter while operating under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of personal injury and death.
Read’s first test ended in a mistrial on July 1 due to a hung jury.
Read’s defense team is waiting for the state’s highest court to decide whether two of the three charges can be dropped before the new trial.
Both prosecutors and defense have now done so asked a start in April of the new process. There is a civil lawsuit against Read that will begin next.
Brandon Truit
