In a shocking turn of events, a mistrial was declared in the high-profile murder trial of Karen Read after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous decision. The case, which had captivated the nation for months, saw Read charged with second-degree murder and other offenses in connection with the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe.
Defense attorneys argued that O'Keefe died after a fight inside the Albert home and that their client was framed. However, prosecutors maintained that Read ran over O'Keefe and left him to die in a snowbank outside the Canton home of Brian and Nicole Albert on January 29, 2022.
The jury deliberated for five days before informing Judge Beverly Cannone that they were deadlocked. Despite prosecutor Adam Lally's request to continue deliberations, Cannone declared a mistrial. The Norfolk District Attorney's Office announced their intention to retry the case against Read.
Supporters of Read gathered outside the courthouse, expressing their disappointment and vowing to be back for a retrial. Labelle Freeland, one of the supporters, said, “Even if it feels like she has no support system, we are her support system.”
The trial had seen over 74 witnesses testify and more than 650 exhibits entered into evidence. The case is expected to be retried in about three weeks in Norfolk Superior Court.
It is important to note that this article does not draw conclusions or express opinions, but rather reports the facts as they have been presented in the sources.