Karen Read, the woman accused of killing her boyfriend, a former Boston police officer, in 2022, will have to wait longer for her trial. A judge has postponed the trial from March 12 to April 16, 2024, after federal prosecutors gave thousands of pages of new information to both sides.
What is the case about?
Karen Read, 43, is charged with murder in the death of John O’Keefe, 45, on Jan. 29, 2022. Prosecutors say Read hit O’Keefe with her SUV while dropping him off at a home in Canton, Massachusetts, after a night out. They say she then drove away and left him to die on the street.
Read’s lawyers say she is innocent and that O’Keefe’s death was an accident. They claim that other people at the afterparty were involved in a cover-up and that Read was framed by corrupt police officers and prosecutors.
What is the new evidence from the feds?
The new evidence comes from a secret investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts into Read’s arrest and prosecution. The scope, purpose, and findings of the federal probe are not clear, but it seems to have something to do with possible misconduct by state officials.
The federal prosecutors gave 3,074 pages of documents to the defense and the prosecution last week, through a process called Touhy, which governs the production of federal documents or testimony in legal cases where the United States is not a party.
The defense says the new documents are favorable to Read and show that she was the victim of a “voluminous” and “extraordinary” governmental misconduct. The defense plans to file a motion to dismiss the case and a motion to disqualify and sanction the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office based on the new evidence.
The prosecution says the new documents are consistent with their theory of the case and the testimony of the witnesses. The prosecution also filed a Touhy request with the federal prosecutors, meaning more information could be coming soon.
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What happens next?
The judge has set a tentative new trial date of April 16, 2024, but that could change depending on how the parties handle the new evidence. The judge also has to rule on several pending motions, including the defense’s motion to suppress Read’s statements to the police and the prosecution’s motion to admit evidence of Read’s prior bad acts.
The trial is expected to last several weeks and attract a lot of media attention. The case has already sparked controversy and debate over the role of police, prosecutors, and the media in the criminal justice system.
People on social media have different reactions to the delay of Karen Read’s murder trial. Some are outraged and demand justice for John O’Keefe, the former Boston police officer who was allegedly killed by Read.
Others are supportive of Read and believe she is innocent and was framed by corrupt cops and prosecutors. Here are some examples of social media posts about the delay:
“This is ridiculous. How long are they going to drag this out? Karen Read is a cold-blooded killer who deserves to rot in jail. Justice for John O’Keefe and his family!” #JusticeForJohn
“I’m glad Karen Read got more time to prepare for her trial. She is a victim of a massive conspiracy by the police and the DA. They have no evidence against her, only lies and cover-ups. She will be vindicated soon. #FreeKaren”
“I’m confused by this new evidence from the feds. What does it have to do with Karen Read’s case? Why did they wait so long to reveal it? Is this a ploy to delay the trial or to help one side or the other? I hope the truth comes out soon. #KarenReadTrial”
“I do not trust the feds or the state in this case. They are both corrupt and biased. They are trying to silence Karen Read and protect their own interests. She exposed the dirty secrets of the police and the DA, and now they want to punish her. #CantonMurder”
“I’m curious about the new evidence from the feds. What did they find out? How does it affect Karen Read’s case? Will it help or hurt her defense? I hope the judge and the jury are fair and impartial. #ReadOkeefe”
People May Ask
What is the Karen Read case?
Karen Read is a woman who is accused of killing her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, a former Boston police officer, in 2022. She says it was an accident, but the prosecutors say it was murder.
Why was her trial delayed?
Her trial was delayed because federal prosecutors gave thousands of pages of new information to both sides. The new information comes from a secret investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office into Read’s arrest and prosecution.
What is the new information from the feds?
The new information from the feds is not clear, but it has something to do with possible misconduct by state officials. The defense says the new information is favorable to Read and shows that she was the victim of a conspiracy. The prosecution says the new information is consistent with their theory of the case and the testimony of the witnesses.
When will her trial start?
Her trial is now scheduled to start on April 16, 2024, but that could change depending on how the parties handle the new information. The trial is expected to last several weeks and attract a lot of media attention.
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