Boston 25 News WFXT

Judge sets date for retrial of Karen Read murder case

By Frank O'Laughlin,

2024-07-22

Judge Beverly Cannone on Monday afternoon set a date for the second Karen Read murder trial, just three weeks after her first trial ended with a hung jury and a mistrial .

The prosecution and defense were back in Dedham’s Norfolk Superior Court for a 2 p.m. status hearing, during which Cannone tentatively scheduled Read’s retrial for Jan. 27, 2025.

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As of now, the Jan. 27, 2025, date is considered tentative because Read’s long-time counsel, David Yannetti, told Cannone that he has another trial right before that and needs to check on the other case.

Cannone also agreed to hear arguments on a motion to dismiss the case on Friday, Aug. 9, noting that she expects to hear an appeal from both sides when she rules on that motion.

Before both sides entered Monday’s hearing, crowds of Read supporters and protesters were seen demonstrating in front of the court, where a buffer zone no longer exists.

Deadlocked jurors sent a note to Judge Beverly Cannone on July 1 indicating they were at an “impasse” and future deliberations would be futile, ultimately ending Read’s two-month trial.

Read’s legal team has filed motions to dismiss two of the three criminal charges that she faces in connection with the death of O’Keefe, including the second-degree murder charge and leaving the scene of a fatal crash.

Read’s attorneys have claimed in the filings that five separate jurors have come forward to notify them that the jury found Read “not guilty” on those charges during their deliberations.

The Norfolk District Attorney’s Office has repeatedly said that it plans to retry Read and a new trial date could be scheduled as soon as Monday afternoon

Prosecutors in the murder case filed documents last week in opposition to the defense’s post-trial motions to dismiss Read’s criminal charges , calling the claims made by Read’s attorneys “unsubstantiated and sensational.”

Defense attorneys said in a follow-up filing that the retrial of Read “should not be allowed,” calling the state’s continued push for a conviction in the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend John O’Keefe “grossly unfair.”

Cannone then indefinitely extended an order impounding the jury list from Read’s murder trial on Thursday, citing one juror’s “credible” and “reasonable” fear for their safety.

Read is accused of killing O’Keefe by striking him with her SUV and leaving him in a snowstorm in Canton in January 2022.

Prosecutors said Read and O’Keefe had been drinking heavily before she dropped him off at a party at the home of Brian Albert, a fellow officer. They said she hit him with her SUV before driving away.

The defense sought to portray Read as the victim, saying O’Keefe was actually killed inside Albert’s home and then dragged outside and left for dead.

Judge sets date for retrial of Karen Read murder case

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