In a dramatic legal showdown, Karen Read, the Massachusetts woman at the center of a high-profile murder case, failed to convince the state’s Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) to dismiss two of the charges against her on double jeopardy grounds.
The ruling, delivered Tuesday, dealt a major blow to Read’s defense, which argued that multiple jurors had already voted to acquit her on key charges before a mistrial was declared. But the state’s highest court ruled unanimously that such post-trial disclosures carry no legal weight.
Deadlocked Jury, No Formal Acquittal
Read, who stands accused of running over her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, and leaving him to die in the snow, has maintained her innocence, claiming she was framed.
Her legal team pointed to statements from at least four jurors, who later revealed that they had unanimously voted to acquit her on the top murder charge and a lesser count. The jury deadlocked on a separate charge, leading to a mistrial.
However, Associate Justice Serge Georges Jr., writing for the court, rejected the argument, stating that only verdicts formally announced in open court determine an acquittal.
Judicial Caution Against Coerced Verdicts
Read’s defense also challenged Superior Court Judge Beverly J. Cannone’s refusal to recall the jury to verify if an acquittal had been reached on any counts.
