DEDHAM – As Karen Read prepares for her second murder trial, Massachusetts State Police say they spent more than a quarter of a million dollars on security for her first trial.
State police on Thursday released a breakdown of what they spent during Read’s first trial.
Security fees for Karen Read trial
Troopers at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham were paid $50,166.23 for 806 regular duty hours and $208,112.71 more for 2,263.8 hours of overtime. The final bill for Massachusetts taxpayers was a whopping $258,278.94.
AP Photo/Steven Senne
The process lasted two and a half months. It started with jury selection April 16 and ended on July 1 when Judge Beverly Cannone declared a mistrial after jurors said it was “deeply divided” and could not reach a unanimous verdict.
The process dragged on big crowds of supporters for both sides outside the courthouse. State police had to barricade the front when the mistrial was announced.
Read’s second trial is expected to begin January 27, 2025.
Who is Karen Read?
Read, 44, is charged with manslaughter, leaving the scene and manslaughter in the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe. January 29, 2022.
Prosecutors said she hit him with her SUV after a night of heavy drinking and left him to die in a snowstorm.
Read’s lawyers said she was framed and that O’Keefe was actually killed at Boston police officer Brian Albert’s home in Canton and dragged outside. Read dropped O’Keefe off at Albert’s house before he died.
Karen Read call
Reading is attractive two charges against her: manslaughter and leaving the scene. Oral arguments will be heard by a full panel of the Massachusetts Supreme Court on November 6.
Read’s attorneys claim that several jurors came forward after the mistrial and said they unanimously agreed to acquit Read of these two charges, even though they never told Judge Cannone.
Prosecutors filed a brief with the Massachusetts Supreme Court on Wednesday saying there is no basis to dismiss the charges.
Jordyn Jagolinzer
