Judge Cannone’s decision not to dismiss charges, including murder, against Karen Read, who is accused in the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend, John O’Keefe, means that a new trial will proceed on January 27. The defense argued that the jury had reached a not guilty verdict on second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a deadly accident, but the judge ruled that since there was no official announcement of a verdict in court, retrying Read on those charges does not violate double jeopardy. Read’s attorney, Marty Weinberg, suggested various options to prove the jury’s alleged acquittal, including polling the jurors or questioning the four jurors who claimed they had reached a verdict.
The defense’s request to drop charges of second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a deadly accident was described by prosecutors as an “unsubstantiated but sensational post-trial claim” based on hearsay and conjecture. Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally urged Judge Cannone to dismiss the defense’s motion. The defense had reported that one juror stated that no one thought Read hit O’Keefe on purpose, but the judge ruled that without a formal verdict announced in open court, the case could proceed to a new trial. Read’s case garnered attention after her two-month trial ended in a mistrial when the jury declared they were hopelessly deadlocked after five days of deliberation.
The defense’s argument about double jeopardy due to the alleged acquittal on certain charges was considered by Judge Cannone, but ultimately the lack of a formal announcement of a verdict led to her decision to allow the case to proceed to a new trial. Read’s attorney had suggested various methods to prove the alleged acquittal, such as polling the jurors or obtaining affidavits, but the judge did not accept these proposals. The prosecution maintained that the defense’s claim was based on hearsay and was legally inappropriate. The case against Read is set to continue in a new trial beginning in January.
The case of Karen Read, who is accused of ramming her SUV into her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, and leaving him for dead, has been the subject of a lengthy legal battle. After a mistrial was declared due to a hung jury, Judge Cannone’s decision to allow the case to proceed to a new trial has reignited interest in the case. The defense’s argument that Read had been acquitted on certain charges was rejected by the judge, who ruled that without an official announcement of a verdict in court, retrying Read did not violate double jeopardy laws.
The defense’s request to drop charges of second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a deadly accident was dismissed by prosecutors as unsubstantiated and based on hearsay. Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally argued that the defense’s claim was sensational and legally inappropriate. Judge Cannone’s decision to move forward with a new trial sets the stage for a continued legal battle between the prosecution and defense in the case of Karen Read. The circumstances surrounding O’Keefe’s death, and Read’s alleged involvement, continue to be at the center of a complex and contentious legal process.
The case of Karen Read and her boyfriend’s death has captured public attention due to the dramatic events leading up to the mistrial and the subsequent legal battle over the charges against her. With a new trial set to begin in January, the case is far from over, and the legal wrangling between the defense and prosecution is likely to continue. Judge Cannone’s decision not to dismiss the charges, including murder, against Read has set the stage for a high-stakes legal battle that will determine her fate. As the case unfolds, the public will be closely watching to see how it all plays out in court.
