New Trial Date Set for Karen Read in Boyfriend’s Death Case

A new trial date has been officially set for Karen Read, the Massachusetts woman charged in the death of her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, a Boston police officer. The trial is scheduled to commence on January 27, 2025, following a mistrial declared earlier this month.

Read appeared in Norfolk Superior Court on Monday, where Judge Beverly Cannone outlined the upcoming schedule. This will be Read’s first appearance since the judge decided to call a mistrial due to jurors’ inability to reach a unanimous verdict after five days of deliberation.

According to the prosecution, Read, a 44-year-old financial analyst, had a tumultuous relationship with O’Keefe. They allege that after an argument, she backed her Lexus SUV into him, leaving him in the snow to die on January 29, 2022, in a neighborhood outside of Boston.

In contrast, Read’s legal team contends that O’Keefe’s death is the result of a cover-up orchestrated by law enforcement officials. Following the announcement of the mistrial, Read’s defense attorney, Alan Jackson, asserted that the prosecution had leaned on investigators who were compromised, casting doubt on the integrity of the investigation.

Read faces several serious charges including second-degree murder, operating a motor vehicle under the influence, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. With the mistrial declared, Read’s attorneys filed motions to dismiss certain charges, claiming that the jury had expressed a consensus on acquitting her of at least two of the charges.

The judge has not yet ruled on these motions, and there will be an oral argument hearing scheduled for August 9. Jackson expressed confidence in their stance, hoping to prevent the retrial of specific counts that he stated were unnecessary.

The alleged incident that led to O’Keefe’s death occurred during a snowstorm, which added a layer of tragedy to the event. O’Keefe was found unresponsive and died from blunt force trauma and hypothermia, according to the medical examiner’s report.

During her defense, Read has maintained that she dropped O’Keefe off at a social gathering and did not see him again until the next morning when she discovered his body on the lawn of a law enforcement colleague.

Read’s legal representation has suggested that evidence was manipulated and that police officers sabotaged the investigation into O’Keefe’s death. They also claimed that derogatory remarks were made by officers regarding Read and that these biases heavily influenced the investigation.

This case has not only drawn attention from local communities but has also sparked national interest, fueling a widespread debate on the conduct of law enforcement and investigation tactics. Outside the courthouse, crowds gathered both in support of Read and in opposition to her, indicating the case’s divisive nature.

In a significant development after the initial trial, a Massachusetts State Police officer who was in contact with a Canton police officer during the investigation was suspended. The Canton officer, a relative of the host of the party where O’Keefe’s body was discovered, was also placed on paid administrative leave.

The upcoming trial in 2025 will undoubtedly be an intense follow-up to the previously unresolved case, with both sides preparing to present their arguments again. The preliminary hearings and motions leading up to this retrial will play a critical role in shaping the proceedings.