Karen Read’s legal saga may take a complex turn following a mistrial declaration by the judge, leaving unanswered questions about potential retrial charges after a divided jury’s decision.
In a dramatic development, TMZ reports that the jury’s vote on second-degree murder was a unanimous 12-0 in favor of acquittal, while they were also united in clearing Read of leaving the scene of an accident involving injury or death.
However, the jury remained deadlocked 9-3 on the charge of vehicular manslaughter, indicating disagreement over whether her actions constituted reckless conduct.
Alan Jackson, Read’s attorney, has swiftly moved to argue against a retrial for second-degree murder, citing the principle of double jeopardy.
He contends that the judge’s failure to acknowledge the jury’s clear decisions on two of the charges before declaring a mistrial denied the defense the chance to contest the necessity of such a declaration.
Jackson has filed legal documents asserting that acquittals should have been entered on both murder and leaving the scene charges.
The intricacies of the case highlight the legal distinctions between charges: leaving the scene of an accident requires proof of intent, which the jury did not find, while vehicular manslaughter hinges on proving reckless conduct, a point of contention that divided the jury.
Prosecutors initially alleged that Read fatally struck her boyfriend, police officer John O’Keefe, after an argument in 2022, then fled the scene.
Read’s defense team countered with claims of police framing, suggesting O’Keefe’s death occurred at a party attended by law enforcement officers. They argued that a biased investigation and offensive texts from a lead investigator undermined the prosecution’s case.
The mistrial declaration, coinciding with the investigator’s dismissal, has stirred public sentiment in Boston, where supporters regularly gather outside the courthouse to rally behind Read.
Prosecutors have indicated their intent to retry Read, but the looming question remains: what charges will they pursue next?
