Karen Read Trial
Karen Read was charged with killing her boyfriend John O'Keefe by hitting him with her car in Canton, Massachusetts. Her first trial ended in a mistrial. Defense claims a cover-up.
On January 29, 2022, Boston police officer John O'Keefe was found dead outside a home in Canton, Massachusetts after a night of drinking. His girlfriend Karen Read was charged with second-degree murder, alleging she struck him with her SUV.
Read's defense team mounted an aggressive counter-narrative, alleging that O'Keefe was killed inside the Canton home during an altercation with the homeowner, and that a police cover-up followed because multiple witnesses were law enforcement.
The defense pointed to DNA evidence of a dog attack, the homeowner's Google search for 'how long to die in cold,' and alleged witness intimidation. The case polarized the community with 'Free Karen Read' signs appearing everywhere.
Read's first trial ended in a mistrial in July 2024 after the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. A retrial was scheduled.
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