A second trial for a Massachusetts woman accused of running down her boyfriend, a Boston police officer, and killing him after a night of drinking is set to get under way next week.
Karen Read was back in court Tuesday to wrap up more motions before her retrial begins April 1.
The 44-year-old was tried last year in the case, but that case ended in a mistrial on July 1 when the jury could not reach a decision. The defense has said Read was a convenient scapegoat in a cover-up in the Jan. 29, 2022, death of 46-year-old John O’Keefe. Prosecutors say Read, in a rage after an argument between the couple, ran over O’Keefe after a night of drinking and then fled.
Last week, Judge Beverly Cannone heard arguments on various motions from the prosecution and defense. Most notably, Cannone ruled against pushing back the April 1 start date of Read’s second trial, despite a pending federal court appeal that could impact her charges, in addition to rulings on expert witnesses.
Read’s case has garnered national attention. At her trial last year, hundreds of supporters held signs reading “Free Karen Read,” wore pink as a show of solidarity and even passed out slices of pizza outside the court. One supporter, Aiden Kearney, a blogger who goes by Turtleboy, was accused of witness intimidation in connection with case.
Meanwhile, others gathered in support of O’Keefe and his family outside the courthouse.
Here’s what we know about Read’s case:
Who is Karen Read?
Read is from Mansfield, Massachusetts. According to the Quincy, Massachusetts, Patriot Ledger, Read had a master’s degree in finance from Bentley University. Prior to her arrest on Feb. 1, 2022, she had worked at Fidelity Investments and was an adjunct professor at Bentley. Her father was previously a dean at the university, the Patriot Ledger reported.
Who is Karen Read? Everything you need to know about Boston’s Karen Read murder trial
Why is Karen Read being retried for murder?
A mistrial was declared in July 2024 when a jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict after a months-long, contentious trial and five days of deliberation.
More than 65 witnesses were called during the first trial, including family members of O’Keefe, forensic experts and police investigators.
Prosecutors allege that Read, after a night of heavy drinking and in a rage, ran over O’Keefe and fled, leaving him to die in the snow on the lawn of Brian Albert, a friend of the couple. Read’s lawyers say she is being scapegoated, and that the cover-up involves several police officers, including Albert, a retired Boston police officer, after O’Keefe was beaten inside Albert’s house after Read had dropped him off there.
Who is John O’Keefe?
O’Keefe was a 46-year-old police officer who had what prosecutors have described as a volatile, on-again, off-again relationship with Read.
His family has filed a wrongful death suit against Read, which will be delayed until the outcome of her criminal trial, the Patriot Ledger reported.
How did John O’Keefe die?
A medical examiner ruled O’Keefe’s manner of death was “undetermined.”
O’Keefe had suffered multiple injuries, Boston.com reported, including two black eyes, cuts on his face and the back of his head and skull fractures that caused bleeding on his brain. Read’s defense says he was bitten by a dog or other animal, but prosecutors said there was no evidence any animal bites or claw marks. He’d been in the snow outside Albert’s house for hours in frigid temperatures.
Judge’s decisions: Judge Cannone still has at least 3 things to decide as Read trial looms
What are the important issues in the Karen Read trial?
There are several issues in dispute in the case, including O’Keefe’s cause of death, the ability of protesters and supporters to gather outside the courthouse in Dedham, Massachusetts, and whether or not Read’s defense can use a “third party culprit” strategy, alleging that someone else killed O’Keefe.
Contributing: Hannah Morse, Patriot Ledger, USA TODAY Network
