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Boston Globe
17 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Judge impounds list of jurors in Karen Read trial indefinitely
Citing the 'divisive' interest the high-profile case has received, Cannone said she believes 'there is a risk of immediate and irreparable injury should the list be made available to the public at this time.' In light of that, the list will remain sealed 'until and unless otherwise ordered by the Court.' Advertisement Read, 45, was acquitted June 18 in Norfolk Superior Court of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death. She was convicted only of a misdemeanor OUI offense and sentenced to a year's probation. Prosecutors said she backed her Lexus SUV in a drunken rage into Boston police officer John O'Keefe early on Jan. 29, 2022, after dropping him off outside a Canton home following a night of bar-hopping. Her lawyers said she was framed and that O'Keefe entered the property, owned at the time by a fellow Boston police officer, where he was fatally beaten and possibly mauled by a German Shepherd before his body was planted on the front lawn. Advertisement Read's first trial had ended with a hung jury last year, and she still faces a wrongful death lawsuit brought by O'Keefe's family in Plymouth Superior Court. Travis Andersen can be reached at
Boston Globe
20-06-2025
- Boston Globe
Judge impounds jury list in Karen Read retrial following her acquittal on major charges
In her order, Cannone wrote that the case 'has garnered significant and divisive attention in Massachusetts and across the nation' and noted that one person tied to the case has been indicted on charges of intimidating witnesses. Advertisement She did not name the person, but Aidan Kearney, a Massachusetts blogger known as Turtleboy who championed Read's innocence and covered her case extensively, The jury list was also impounded following the Read's first trial, which ended with a hung jury last year, but at least one juror was identified on social media with their picture and LinkedIn profile published on Twitter, Cannone wrote. (Twitter is now known as X.) 'Based on the circumstances of the first trial where a juror avowed that they were in fear for their safety and the safety of their family if the list of jurors were made public, and the fact that the case continues to receive daily, divisive attention in Massachusetts and beyond, the Court concludes that there is a real and present 'risk of [personal] harm to jurors [and] to the integrity of their service,'' Cannone wrote. Advertisement The impoundment order does not prohibit jurors from choosing to identify themselves and speak publicly about the case, she wrote. Cannone set the order, which was dated Wednesday, to expire after 10 days, but it could be extended. Read was accused of hitting O'Keefe with her SUV after dropping him off at the Canton home of a now-retired Boston police officer for an after-party following a night of drinking at two Canton bars on Jan. 29, 2022, as a snowstorm moved into the region. O'Keefe's body was discovered in the snow on the home's front lawn several hours later. Following weeks of witness testimony, the jury on Wednesday acquitted Read on charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. During both trials, Read's attorneys argued that O'Keefe entered the home and was fatally beaten and possibly mauled by a German Shepherd before his body was placed on the lawn. Two of the 12 jurors have already spoken publicly since reaching the verdict. One juror, Paula Prado, told reporters Thursday that there were 'holes' in the prosecution's case that led her to decide Read was not responsible for O'Keefe's death. 'We couldn't prove there was a collision and she was responsible for John's death,' Prado said, Advertisement Legal specialists have said the case against Read was undercut by While her criminal trial is over, Nick Stoico can be reached at
Boston Globe
17-06-2025
- Boston Globe
No verdict after second day of deliberations in Karen Read retrial; jury submits questions
Read, 45, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death. Advertisement Prosecutors say she backed her Lexus SUV in a drunken rage into her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, early on Jan. 29, 2022, after dropping him off outside a Fairview Road home in Canton following a night of bar-hopping. Her lawyers say she was framed and that O'Keefe entered the property, owned at the time by a fellow Boston police officer, where he was fatally beaten and possibly mauled by a German Shepherd before his body was planted on the front lawn. Advertisement Read's first trial ended in a hung jury and she remains free on bail, with throngs of supporters cheering her each day as she comes and goes from the Dedham courthouse with her legal team. She also faces a wrongful death lawsuit brought by O'Keefe's family in Plymouth Superior Court. On Tuesday, Cannone told the jury that their question about the 'time frame' of the lesser OUI charge is entirely up to them. 'The answer to that question is that you folks have all the evidence,' Cannone said. 'And remember, it's only you who decide the facts in this case.' As for the question on Read's interview clips, Cannone said, 'yes, the videos are evidence.' 'You should weigh the defendant's statements in the videos as you would any other piece of evidence, and give them whatever weight you deem appropriate,' she said. On the question of whether convicting on a lesser offense would mean a guilty finding on the overriding manslaughter while OUI count, Cannone clarified that jurors, if they find Read not guilty of the main manslaughter charge or any of its lesser included offenses, should 'stop and sign the verdict slip.' The three lesser included offenses the jury must consider are involuntary manslaughter, motor vehicle homicide, and operating under the influence of liquor. On each of those lesser counts starting with involuntary manslaughter, Cannone said, jurors should 'stop and sign the verdict slip,' if they find her guilty of that offense. Otherwise, they should continue to motor vehicle homicide, again stopping and signing the verdict slip if they find her guilty of that offense, Cannone said. Otherwise, they should continue to the charge of operating under the influence, marking whether they find her guilty or not guilty of that infraction. 'And remember, your decision must be unanimous,' Cannone said. Advertisement Travis Andersen can be reached at
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Yahoo
Karen Read's retrial: Judge declines to answer 4th jury question, calls it ‘theoretical'
The judge in Karen Read's murder retrial on Tuesday afternoon declined to answer a fourth question from the jury, deeming it 'theoretical,' shortly after ruling on an additional three questions about evidence and a verdict slip. When the court returned from its afternoon lunch break, Cannone announced that jurors had a fourth question: 'If we find not guilty on two charges but can't agree on one charge, is it a hung jury on all three charges or just one charge?' Cannone informed the court that she would respond to the jury and tell them that the question is 'theoretical' and not something she can answer. 'To me, it's a theoretical question, and we don't answer theoretical questions. I tell the jurors that they're not to be concerned with the consequences of their verdict, and that's exactly what they're doing here,' Cannone explained. Read attorney Alan Jackson urged Cannone to offer clarity in a quick note to the jury, emphatically stating, 'We're going to end up in the exact same position we were in last year.' Last year, the jury sent three notes to the judge over three days before a mistrial was declared due to a hung jury. Several jurors later came out to say that the panel had unanimously agreed that Read was not guilty of the most serious charge of second-degree murder. Cannone called the question 'premature,' noting that it 'may be something later.' Special prosecutor Hank Brennan endorsed Cannone's ruling. Earlier in the day, Cannone ruled on the following three questions: What is the timeframe for the OUI charge, 12:45 a.m. or 5 a.m.? Are video clips of Karen Read evidence, and how do we consider them? Does convicting guilty on a sub-charge convict on the overall charge? (In reference to the manslaughter OUI charge) Read, 45, of Mansfield, is accused of striking John O'Keefe, 46, with her Lexus SUV and leaving him to die alone in a blizzard outside of a house party in Canton at the home of fellow officer Brian Albert on Jan. 29, 2022, following a night of drinking. Throughout her second trial, the prosecution's theory of jaded love turned deadly was countered by a defense claim that a cast of tight-knit Boston area law enforcement killed a fellow police officer. Read's lawyers argued that O'Keefe was beaten, bitten by a dog, then left outside Albert's home in a conspiracy orchestrated by the police that included planting evidence against Read. Get caught up with all of the latest in Karen Read's retrial. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Important ruling made on day 17 of Karen Read retrial as judge issues message for the jury
An important ruling was made by Judge Beverly Cannone on day 17 of testimony in the retrial of Karen Read. Right after the jury was sent home for the weekend, Cannone announced that she's not going to penalize the prosecution for entering new evidence. One of Read's lawyers called it an 'ambush.' What you need to know about the trial of Karen Read 'We are getting near the end and there will be no more comment,' Yannetti said. Karen Read wished reporters a good weekend but that was it outside of court after the ruling did not go in her favor. 'The defendant has not persuaded me of undue surprise or unfair prejudice by this information,' Cannone said. A prosecution expert shifted the timing of a 'trigger' event that was recorded by Read's Lexus. That data is expected to be compared to the last movement of John O'Keefe's phone. 'There is no changes in the time,' Special Prosecutor Hank Brennan said. 'Because their expert made an improper conclusion. It's not our fault.' A State Police scientist, Andre Porto, testified that DNA from John O'Keefe and two other individuals were found on Read's taillight, and a broken cocktail glass found at the crime scene. 'The DNA profile was interpreted as a mixture of three contributors,' Porto said. And Judge Cannone has a new message for the jury: 'Just think, just listen,' she said. 'Don't talk. Don't make any facial expressions. No muttering under your breath. No audible noises because people need to hear what's going on.' We don't know what prompted those remarks to the jury. Boston 25 Investigative Reporter Ted Daniel says he personally saw one juror visibly react to testimony, but that's it. The trial resumes on Monday. Miss anything from Week 4 of the retrial? Ted Daniel has you covered with a full recap on the Boston 25 News Youtube page. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
