Summary:
Murder Charge Filed: Karen Read is facing second-degree murder charges in the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe.
Prosecution’s Claim: Prosecutors allege she struck O’Keefe with her SUV outside a house party in Canton, Massachusetts, and left him to die in the snow.
Defense’s Conspiracy Claim: Her legal team argues she is being framed in a wide-reaching police cover-up and that another officer at the party was responsible for O’Keefe’s fatal injuries.
Closing arguments concluded Friday morning in the high-profile murder trial of Karen Read as the jury prepares to deliberate over whether she intentionally killed her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, in January 2022.
Read is charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of a fatal crash. Prosecutors say she struck O’Keefe with her SUV outside a home in Canton, Massachusetts, after a night of drinking, then drove away, leaving him to die in a snowbank.
In court Friday, defence attorney Alan Jackson made the final case for Read’s innocence, arguing that she has been framed in a broad police conspiracy. According to the defence, O’Keefe was fatally assaulted inside the home by another law enforcement officer and left outside to make it appear as if Read had hit him.
Each side had 75 minutes to address the jury before Judge Beverly Cannone issued final instructions. Deliberations are expected to begin Friday afternoon.
The trial has drawn national attention due to its shocking claims of police misconduct and cover-up. Read’s attorneys have suggested that investigative irregularities, missing evidence, and conflicting witness testimony all point to a broader scheme to protect insiders within the law enforcement community.
A previous trial ended in a mistrial in 2024 after jurors failed to reach a unanimous decision. The current proceedings have included new evidence and renewed public scrutiny, with live courtroom coverage adding pressure to an already tense case.
If convicted, Read could face life in prison with the possibility of parole. If acquitted, the verdict would likely fuel ongoing demands for an independent investigation into the events surrounding O’Keefe’s death and the conduct of the responding officers.
As the jury begins its deliberations, the case stands at the intersection of personal tragedy, alleged institutional failure, and deep public interest.
