Massachusetts High Court Allows Retrial in Karen Read Case

The court ruled that a mistrial in the 2022 case does not violate double jeopardy, clearing the way for a retrial on all charges.

Karen Read faces retrial on charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter, and leaving the scene of a crime in the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe.
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the mistrial declared in June 2024 was valid due to a deadlocked jury and does not bar a retrial under double jeopardy protections.
Prosecutors allege Read struck O’Keefe with her SUV after a night of drinking, leaving him to die in a snowstorm, while her defense claims she was framed to protect other law enforcement officers.
The defense requested a posttrial juror inquiry, arguing that jurors had reached not guilty verdicts on two charges, but the court rejected this, stating no final verdict was delivered in open court.
The retrial is scheduled for April 2025, with Read's legal team considering federal habeas relief to challenge the decision.