Karen Read Seeks Delay in Wrongful Death Lawsuit Amid Murder Trial

Read's legal team argues that proceeding with the civil lawsuit could compromise her Fifth Amendment rights during her upcoming criminal retrial.

Karen Read is accused of causing the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, by hitting him with her SUV and leaving him in a snowstorm.
A wrongful death lawsuit filed by O'Keefe's family also claims bars negligently served Read alcohol despite her intoxication.
Read's initial criminal trial ended in a mistrial in July, and a retrial is scheduled for January 27, 2025.
Her attorneys argue delaying the civil lawsuit is necessary to protect her legal rights and ability to defend against criminal charges.
O'Keefe's family opposes the delay, citing Read's public statements and media appearances as undermining her Fifth Amendment claims.