Summary

Karen Read's murder trial for allegedly killing her boyfriend, a Boston police officer, began in Dedham, Massachusetts. Prosecutors accuse her of hitting him with her SUV and leaving the scene, while her defense claims she is being framed. The case has drawn widespread attention and sparked protests alleging witness tampering and police cover-up.

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For those who read...

Good morning Current2 listeners, my name is Jake, and today we’re going to break down the viral murder trial of Karen Read.

Deliberations for Karen Read’s high profile murder case began Tuesday in Dedham, Massachusetts. Karen Read, a 44-year-old woman from Mansfield, Massachusetts, has taken the internet by storm after being charged with 3 separate felonies— second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of personal injury and death.

Karen Read is accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe. O’Keefe was found bruised and bloody in the snow on January 29, 2022 outside of the home of a fellow Boston police officer in the suburb of Canton. Witnesses say the two had a strained relationship at the time O’Keefe died.

Prosecutors claim Read hit O’Keefe with her Lexus SUV and left him to die in a snowstorm. Read’s defense attorney’s argue she is being framed, and that O’Keefe was involved in a fight at another Boston police officer's house, bitten by a dog, and then dumped in the street by the men involved in the fight.

The prosecution called 68 witnesses in the span of nearly two months before resting their case late last week. Defense attorneys called a total of six witnesses, and rested their case on Monday, before both sides made their closing arguments. Prosecutors chose to call many witnesses and closely examine evidence from the scene. On the other hand, defense attorneys called less witnesses, but spend much of their time cross-examining prosecution witnesses and raising questions about the investigation and potential police coverup going on behind the scenes.

In two vastly different closing arguments, defense lawyers argued that Read is the victim of an elaborate cover up scheme against her. In contrast, prosecutors urged the jurors to consider the evidence provided and follow Read’s exact words throughout the trial. Six men and six women are serving on the jury, with two women serving as alternates. In total, three jurors were excused throughout the trial, with the third being excused during the closing arguments.

Members of the O’Keefe family and several key witnesses for the trial sat together to watch the closing arguments, while a large group of protesters gathered outside of the courthouse, erupting into chants such as “free Karen Read.”

The case has prompted widespread attention everywhere from true crime enthusiasts to the federal government. The investigation has come under fire for accusations of witness tampering and has prompted both a federal probe into the investigation and a large movement of protestors supporting Read.

Know any true crime enthusiasts itching for more info on the case? Send us their way! Thanks for listening to this Current2 Deeper Dive, and we’ll be back to break down the biggest news for you tomorrow, so stay tuned!

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Sources:

Karen Read murder trial jury begins deliberations (CBS)

Karen Read’s jurors must now decide: Was it deadly romance or police corruption? (AP)

At Karen Read’s murder trial, prosecutors accuse her of drunken driving while defense alleges a vast police cover up (CNN)