In a dramatic conclusion to one of Massachusetts' most controversial cases, a jury today delivered a split verdict in Karen Read's second murder trial. Read was found NOT GUILTY of second-degree murder in the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, but was convicted on the lesser charge of operating under the influence.
After three full days of deliberations and multiple questions to the judge about verdict forms and hung jury procedures, the jury acquitted Read on the most serious charge that could have sent her to prison for life. They also cleared her of other charges but found her guilty of drunk driving.
The verdict comes after more than a month of testimony in Read's retrial, following a mistrial last year when jurors couldn't reach unanimous agreement. This case has deeply divided the community, with pink-clad supporters gathering daily outside the courthouse, convinced that Read was framed in a police conspiracy.
Prosecutors had argued that Read, intoxicated after a night of drinking, struck O'Keefe with her Lexus SUV outside a Canton house party in January 2022 and left him to die in the snow. The defense maintained that O'Keefe was beaten inside the home, possibly bitten by a dog, and that corrupt police officers orchestrated a cover-up to protect their own.
The case gained national attention partly due to revelations about lead investigator Michael Proctor, who was fired after offensive text messages about Read came to light. Defense attorneys argued his bias tainted the entire investigation.
Today's verdict represents a partial victory for Read and her legal team, who successfully convinced jurors to reject the prosecution's murder theory while acknowledging her impaired driving that night.
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