Dateline NBC episode The Night of the Nor'easter has covered the murder investigation of Boston police officer John O'Keefe and his girlfriend Karen Read's involvement in the incident. Karen Read was reportedly convicted of second-degree murder as well as motor vehicle manslaughter while driving under the influence and escaping from a scene of collision.
She first went to trial on April 16, 2024, with opening statements being presented by both sides on April 28. But as the jury was not able to reach a unanimous decision, Judge Cannone declared a mistrial and scheduled the next trial for January 27, 2025.
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However, the latest developments in the case have drawn a lot of public attention. Karen Read presented herself in the highest court of Massachusetts. Her defense team has reportedly placed the argument that at least two charges against her should be dropped or put under reexamination.
The defense attorneys have cited the jury's unanimous decision to acquit her of second-degree murder and leaving a scene of collision. The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts heard the arguments from both sides on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.
To know more about the latest updates on Karen Read's murder trial, follow this article.
What is the latest development in Karen Read's murder trial?
Karen Read reportedly appeared in the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts where the defense team has claimed that Karen was not found guilty of second-degree murder and fleeing the scene of collision, as per the jury's agreement. Read's appellate lawyer has reportedly said:
"There is a trustworthy, corroborated, and we contest uncontradictory showing that the prior jury reached a unanimous decision to acquit Miss Read of two of the three charges."
Moreover, five jurors were initially deadlocked only on her manslaughter count and had agreed that she was not guilty of the other two charges. However, as no verdict was announced in open court, Judge Cannone said that Karen Read could face retrial for all three charges.
In court, Read's defense has given the argument that the mistrial was announced abruptly without consulting the jurors on the confirmation of their conclusive statements. The defense has briefed the whole situation saying:
"There is no indication that the court gave any consideration to alternatives, most notably inquiry regarding partial verdicts. And counsel was not given a full opportunity to be heard. The court never asked for counsel's views, or even mentioned the word mistrial. "
How did the prosecution act on the arguments placed in court?
Prosecutors have reportedly told the court that there is no foundation based on which the two charges can be dropped. They further wrote in a briefing:
"The defendant was not acquitted of any charge because the jury did not return, announce, and affirm any open and public verdicts of acquittal. That requirement is not a mere formalism, ministerial act, or empty technicality. It is a fundamental safeguard that ensures no juror's position is mistaken, misrepresented, or coerced by other jurors."
According to prosecutor Caleb Schillinger, Judge Cannone was under no obligation to ask the jurors to individually consider the charges before declaring a mistrial. Prosecutors further added that it was declared three times by the jury that they were deadlocked, before the announcement of a mistrial.
There was reportedly no reaction from John O'Keefe's family outside the court. When Karen Read's father was questioned about her daughter's legal bills amounting to $5 million, he said:
"I don’t have Robert Kraft money, but these are men and women that are alongside my daughter, not necessarily for the economic and financial return."
According to NBC10 Boston legal analyst Michael Coyne, the charges might not be dropped. A retrial is set to commence in January 2025 while both sides have requested to further delay it till April 1.
Also read: What happened to John O'Keefe?
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