In a shocking turn of events, Karen Read, a 44-year-old financial analyst from Mansfield, Massachusetts, is set to face trial once again in the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe. The new trial date has been scheduled for January 27, 2025.
The first trial ended in a mistrial on July 1 after jurors could not reach a verdict following nine weeks of deliberations. Read had pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of personal injury and death.
Prosecutors allege that Read drunkenly backed her Lexus SUV into O'Keefe outside a Canton home on January 29, 2022. However, Read's lawyers claim she was framed and that O'Keefe entered the residence where he was fatally beaten before his body was planted on the front lawn.
The defense team has filed a motion to dismiss two of the charges against Read, asserting that five jurors have told them that they unanimously agreed to acquit her on those counts. Prosecutors argue that this motion is without legal merit and should be rejected as no verdict was delivered in open court.
The case has gained national attention, with supporters of Read gathering outside Dedham courthouse daily throughout the trial. Netflix has also announced plans to produce a three-part documentary series about the death of O'Keefe, which will explore what happened in the days leading up to his death.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.