Steve Cooper Live From The Karen Read Trial 7.1.24

Steve Cooper from channel 7 is live on the scene. He is outside the courthouse giving us the full update.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Speaking of deadlock, the jury andthe Karen Read trial Friday told the judge
they were deadlocked, and we've gotSteve Cooper outside the courthouse right now.
So Steve, what's happening next?Right? So the jury's going to get
back to work this morning at nineo'clock. And as you mentioned on Friday,
that sort of bombshell announcement at noontimewhen they had a note that they
sent to the judge and we allwent back into the courtroom, and you

(00:22):
know, there's this drama like whatcould they possibly be asking? And then
the judge read the note out loudto everyone in the courtroom and it basically
said, after exhausted efforts and lookingover everything, we cannot reach a verdict,
a unanimous verdict. So that sortof put the hush over the crowd
and inside the courtroom and definitely outsideas well. And so she listened to
both sides and then she said,Okay, we're going to send the jury

(00:44):
back out again, and then we'regoing to tell them to keep deliberating.
HM, go ahead, Lisea.Hey, Steve, have you noticed,
like have they stepped up security outsidethe last couple of days? A big,
big time I was actually just goingto say that, you know,
I noticed it on Friday suddenly,when Karen Reid and her legal team came
in and out, and you know, the o'cue family, they were instead

(01:06):
of coming on one side of thecourthouse, they were taking them on a
secret different way with extra security.And I mean literally, on Friday,
I saw so many police officers Iactually counted because I was like, Wow,
I don't know where all these peoplecame from, but there is definitely
more security. And by the way, yes Friday afternoon, the police had
to break up both sides that oroutside. The supporters of cant read and

(01:27):
the supporters are O'Keefe literally getting inthe middle of We were at the cameras
rolling, not as many as Netflixhad, but we had plenty of cameras
rolling, and I thought they weregoing to be punches. So they're brawling
in the streets now, so Steve. They're a camera crews from all over
the world, right like France,Germany, everywhere, I mean keep arriving
and there are also people coming fromeverywhere. And when you talk to these

(01:51):
people, it's people that are onvacation. Some are vacation, they're tourists,
they've heard about it. People arejust literally flocking to Dedham to come
see this. Imagine that. Soyou've got a summer vacation, you say,
let's drive from Alabama to Boston sowe can stand outside a courthouse in
Dedham. And a mother and adaughter did that. And they were coming

(02:14):
from Dallas, Texas and did that. So what then even Alabama? Wow,
there you're going and you just lookat them and say why, and
you know, it's just it's incredibleto see. And of course now that
they're entering not just the fifth dayof deliberations, but this trial started four
months ago April May June, andit's July. So quickly, Steve,

(02:36):
what's the consensus the jury announcing theywere deadlocked on Friday? Is this a
good or a bad thing for KarenReid? Right? So? I think
the thing is is that nobody knowswhat that breakdown is of why they can't
reach you an animus verdict? Isit the twelve members of the jury,
obviously, and then the two alternates? So if you take the number twelve,
is it eleven to one and elevenpeople are trying to convince that twelfth

(02:58):
person or as I was saying topeople over the weekend, it might be
six' six and keep in mindit's six men and it's six women,
So is it down the gender line? Is it down something? I mean?
And that's going to change everything becauseas they deliberate, since we don't
know that number, how many peoplecan you convince to come to your side?
Now. I was talking to afriend of mine over the weekend who

(03:19):
is in the court system, andhe says, if they come back again,
let's say it is ruled it todeadlock, then everybody finds out what
the jurors were thinking and how thejurors voted. Well, not necessarily,
because they don't have to give they'renot supposed to give the number the breakdown.
The judge says, when they writea note, do not tell me

(03:39):
that number. But last year inthe Lopes trial, they did give the
number. It was eleven to one, and then we could be found out
why it was eleven to one.But they're not supposed to do that.
And now the judge, if theycome back again today deadlock, she has
to read them that two year Ardrigascharge. This is no other jury that
can come up with a better decision. Than you and send them back out.
But then they come back another timeafter she reads that charge. Then

(04:02):
she has to declare a mistrial.Wow. And then the options I believe
would be a new trial, droppingthe case, or offering a plea deal.
Right. And somebody said to meon Friday, they said, even
if they decide to do it again, they might try the case somewhere else,
like far away, like in theother side of the state, like

(04:23):
Pittsfield or Springfield or somewhere. Sobecause they couldn't what's happening right now that
I don't see how they could dothis again around two of this and it
would happen probably in the winter orin the fall, and you just be
putting people out there in the middleof the winter. That's pretty hard to
believe, all right. So that'sthe voice of Steve Cooper Channel seven News
here in Boston and across the NewEngland, standing outside the courthouse as the

(04:46):
jury prepares to come back for afifth day. Steve, thanks again as
always, great job.