Massachusetts prosecutors plan to re-try Karen Read case after mistrial

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the case of Karen Read, who was accused of hitting her Boston police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, with her SUV and leaving him to die in the snow in Canton, Massachusetts, in January 2022. The article covers the following key points:

🙋 Q&A

[01] Karen Read's Case

1. What was the outcome of the initial trial?

• The initial trial resulted in a mistrial due to a deadlocked jury.

2. What is the prosecutor's next move?

• The Norfolk County District Attorney's office has stated that they intend to re-try the case.

3. When will Karen Read be back in court?

• A status conference has been scheduled for July 22 at 2 p.m. in Norfolk Superior Court, where Read is set to appear in-person with her lawyer.

4. What are the challenges in retrying the case?

• It could be difficult to find a jury that is unbiased and unaware of the case, as it has received significant media attention in the local area.
• The legal analyst Jennifer Roman stated that it will be "extraordinarily difficult" to find a subset of people who know nothing about the case.

5. What were the charges against Karen Read?

• Read was charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of personal injury and death.
• If convicted on the murder charge, she could face up to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

6. What are the possible next steps for Karen Read's case?

• There is a possibility of a plea deal or an appeal, where Read could argue that there was insufficient evidence to convict her.
• The prosecutor may also consider reducing the second-degree murder charge if they believe that was the reason the jury could not reach a decision.