DEDHAM – Karen Read’s Massachusetts murder case ended on Monday when Judge Beverly Canone declared a mistrial due to a jury that failed to reach a verdict. Read’s attorneys say they will continue to fight the charges against their client.
Reading was on process since Aprilcharged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while driving under the influence and leaving the scene of a crime resulting in injury and death.
Prosecutors say Read beat her boyfriend and Boston police officer John O’Keefewith her SUV and left him for dead in the snow outside a Canton home on January 29, 2022.
Defense attorneys have argued that Read was the victim of a cover-up during what they describe as a compromised investigation. They allege that O’Keefe was killed during a fight in the house and dragged outside. Read’s attorneys allege that police framed Read because of connections to witnesses in the case.
Karen Read hung jury
On Monday morning, the jurors sent a letter to Cannone saying that they… “deeply divided” in their view of the evidence.
The judge gave the jury an instruction that was considered a “last resort.” Hours later, the jurors sent a second letter saying they remained “strongly divided,” and Cannone declared a mistrial.
The Norfolk District Attorney’s Office said that plans to rehear the case.
Karen Read’s lawyers respond to mistrial
Shortly after the mistrial was declared, Read stood alongside her attorneys for a brief press conference on the steps of Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Massachusetts. Read herself did not comment.
“The Commonwealth has done the worst thing possible. They have carried the burden of the state based on false accusations, compromised evidence and investigators, and compromised witnesses. They have failed miserably and they will continue to fail, no matter how long it takes, no matter how long they keep trying, we will not stop fighting,” said defense attorney Alan Jackson. “We have no stopping.”
David Yannetti, another of Read’s attorneys, praised her “strength and courage.”
“I want to send a message to all her followers out there. Your support has been invaluable. We are touched and we ask for your continued support,” Yannetti said.
The case will return to court on July 22 to determine next steps.
