Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to Review Karen Read Murder Case

The Trial Of Karen Read | Justice For John O'Keefe

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has agreed to review Karen Read’s murder case, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal battle surrounding the death of Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe. Read, 44, is accused of striking O'Keefe with her SUV on the night of January 29, 2022, and leaving him outside to die in a snowstorm after a night of drinking. Read has consistently denied the allegations, with her defense arguing that O'Keefe was assaulted at a home in Canton, Massachusetts, before being left outside.
Supreme Judicial Court Justice Elizabeth Dewar issued a court filing stating, “I hereby reserve and report this case, without decision, for determination by the Supreme Judicial Court for the Commonwealth. The parties shall prepare and file in the full court a comprehensive statement of agreed facts necessary to resolve the issues raised by the petition.” This decision sets the stage for oral arguments in November, with briefs due in September and October.
This decision follows an appeal filed by Read’s attorney seeking to overturn a ruling by Norfolk Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone, who denied a motion to dismiss two of the three charges against Read—second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a deadly crash. The appeal focuses on testimony from jurors who claimed they were prepared to acquit Read of these charges during her first trial, which ended in a mistrial after the jury declared themselves hopelessly deadlocked.
"After careful consideration, this court concludes that because the defendant was not acquitted on any of the charges and defense counsel consented to the court's declaration of a mistrial, double jeopardy is not implicated by retrial of the defendant," Judge Cannone wrote in her decision. The defense argued that retrying Read would violate double jeopardy protections, given the jury's stance during deliberations.
Read’s legal team is preparing to submit a principal brief on the case by September 25, with prosecutors required to file their response by October 16. Read’s attorneys will have until October 25 to reply to the prosecution's brief, with oral arguments expected to take place in November.
The case has garnered significant public attention due to conflicting narratives surrounding O'Keefe’s death. Prosecutors allege that Read struck O’Keefe with her vehicle outside the Canton home of fellow Boston Police Officer Brian Albert, leaving him to die in the cold. The defense, however, contends that O'Keefe was dragged outside after being beaten in the basement and bitten by a dog.
The mistrial in Read’s first trial occurred on July 1, when the jury of six women and six men informed the court that they were deadlocked. The defense immediately requested the dismissal of the charges, citing reports from several jurors who said they were prepared to acquit Read on the charges of second-degree murder and leaving the scene.
Karen Read's future now hinges on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's decision, with many eagerly awaiting the court’s ruling on her appeal.
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