Live Update: Verdict Reached in Karen Read's Trial

The jury tasked with determining the fate of Karen Read has reached a decision. This verdict is set to be pronounced shortly at the Norfolk Superior Court located in Dedham, Massachusetts.

Just moments prior, during a lunch break on Wednesday afternoon, the jury communicated to a court officer that they had come to a unanimous decision. This development was relayed to the public shortly thereafter.

Karen Read is accused of second-degree murder, manslaughter while allegedly operating under the influence of alcohol, and fleeing the scene resulting in injury and death. These charges relate to the demise of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe. She has maintained her innocence against all these accusations.

The jury began discussions late on Friday and resumed on Monday, ultimately deliberating for approximately 20 hours. The panel is comprised of seven women and five men.

Details from the Trial

On the last day of the proceedings, the prosecution, led by Hank Brennan, put forth that Read was intoxicated while behind the wheel of her SUV. It was alleged that she left O'Keefe outside a residence, drove over him in anger due to their troubled relationship, and subsequently abandoned him in a harsh winter storm.

In defense, Read's lawyer, Alan Jackson, posited that there was no vehicular incident. Instead, he argued that O'Keefe met his end in a domestic altercation inside the house, a line of inquiry that the lead Massachusetts State Trooper failed to pursue thoroughly. Notably, this investigator was subsequently dismissed and did not testify in court.

Potential Sentencing Outcomes

If Read is found guilty of second-degree murder, the consequences could include life imprisonment with a chance for parole.

A manslaughter conviction associated with Operating Under the Influence could result in a sentence ranging from five to twenty years in prison, accompanied by a potential fine reaching $25,000. Lesser charges might also come into play.

Should the charge be involuntary manslaughter, the penalty could span from five to twenty years.

For motor vehicle homicide, Read might face incarceration for two-and-a-half to fifteen years, alongside a maximum fine of $5,000.

Should the accusation pertain to leaving the scene of the crime, sentencing could differ: a state prison term could be two-and-a-half to ten years with a similar fine, whereas a county jail term could range from one to two-and-a-half years.

Additionally, an Operating Under the Influence charge imposes a fine of $500 to $5,000, with possible imprisonment up to two-and-a-half years or both.

Retrial Developments

The re-examination of the case commenced on April 22. Over a 31-day duration, the jury heard from 49 witnesses and reviewed more than 200 pieces of evidence, including elements from Read’s SUV and the clothing worn by O'Keefe on the night of his death. The case was delivered to the jury for deliberation on June 13.