The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that accused murderer Karen Read can be tried again on charges related to the death of her former boyfriend, Boston cop John O’Keefe. The court rejected the argument that posttrial accounts of jurors’ private deliberations contradicting their public communications could render a mistrial improper. Read is charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle under the influence, and leaving the scene of an accident causing death.
Prosecutors claim Read struck O’Keefe with her SUV after a night of heavy drinking, leaving him to die on a Canton front yard. Her defense attorneys argue she has been framed by corrupt officials. A mistrial was declared after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict last summer. Read’s attorneys claim some jurors were only hung on one charge and were ready to acquit on others, alleging double jeopardy. The SJC disagreed, stating that posttrial disclosures cannot alter the trial’s outcome retroactively.
Read’s defense team will continue to fight against the charges. The SJC opinion affirms the trial judge’s decision to deny the motion to dismiss, stating that posttrial juror inquiries cannot change the trial’s outcome. The case will proceed to a new trial, where the prosecution will once again seek justice for the death of O’Keefe. This ruling sets the stage for further legal battles as Read continues to maintain her innocence in the case.
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