Lawyers for Karen Read, charged with the murder of Boston cop John O'Keefe, allege that jurors had reached an agreement to find her not guilty before the judge declared a mistrial.
Lawyers for Karen Read, the suspected Boston cop killer, claim that jurors in her trial over the death of John O'Keefe had agreed to find her not guilty before the judge declared a mistrial.
In a motion to dismiss second-degree murder charges and leaving the scene of an accident, Read's lawyers asserted that three of the 12 jurors sent "unsolicited communications" to the defense, indicating that the jury had a firm 12-0 agreement to find her not guilty on two of the three charges.
Karen Read's Mistrial: Lawyers Claim Jury Had "Agreement" to Find Not Guilty
Read's trial ended after five days of deliberations last week when Judge Beverly Cannone declared a mistrial due to the jurors' inability to reach a unanimous verdict. "Despite our commitment, we are deeply divided by fundamental differences," jurors wrote in a note to the judge.
However, Read's lawyers argue that the jury had effectively reached a not guilty verdict on at least two charges, citing the jury's "firm 12-0 agreement." They contend that a second trial would violate Read's constitutional protection against double jeopardy.
Karen Read's Mistrial: Lawyers Claim Jury Had "Agreement" to Find Not Guilty
Prosecutors have indicated that they plan to seek a new trial, but Read's lawyers maintain that a retrial is unconstitutional.
The jury's alleged agreement to find Read not guilty follows a contentious trial marked by conflicting accounts of the events leading to O'Keefe's death.
Karen Read's Mistrial: Lawyers Claim Jury Had "Agreement" to Find Not Guilty
Read, who was O'Keefe's girlfriend at the time, claimed that he was killed by his influential police colleagues, who allegedly framed her as the scapegoat. Prosecutors, on the other hand, argued that the couple had an alcohol-fueled argument on the night of his death, leading to a physical altercation.
A key conflict in the trial centered around whether Read intentionally hit O'Keefe with her SUV or even if she hit him at all.
Karen Read's Mistrial: Lawyers Claim Jury Had "Agreement" to Find Not Guilty
The jury's inability to reach a unanimous verdict highlights the complexity of the case and the challenges in determining the circumstances surrounding O'Keefe's death.
As the legal proceedings continue, it remains to be seen whether Read's lawyers will succeed in their double jeopardy argument or if prosecutors will be able to secure a new trial. The outcome of this case will have significant implications for the families of both Read and O'Keefe, as well as for the public's understanding of justice in cases involving alleged police misconduct.
Karen Read's Mistrial: Lawyers Claim Jury Had "Agreement" to Find Not Guilty
