A Massachusetts jury discovered Karen Read not responsible of murdering her Boston police officer boyfriend in 2022, practically a yr after her first prosecution resulted in a mistrial.
She was acquitted of essentially the most severe costs, together with second-degree homicide, manslaughter and leaving the scene after an accident leading to dying.
The jury did discover her responsible of working beneath the affect of liquor. The decide instantly sentenced her to one-year probation, the usual for a first-time offense.
Cheers might be heard from exterior the courthouse, the place supporters of Learn have gathered, whereas the decision was being learn. Learn embraced her authorized group and cried following the decision.
A brand new “20/20” particular, “Karen Learn: The Verdict,” airing Wednesday, June 18, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET on ABC and streaming the subsequent day on Hulu, examines the case.
Karen Learn hugs lawyer Alan Jackson after a not responsible verdict of second-degree homicide is learn in Norfolk Superior Courtroom, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Dedham, Mass.
Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger by way of AP, Pool
The jury started deliberating the afternoon of June 13 in Norfolk County earlier than reaching a verdict Wednesday afternoon.
Prosecutors alleged Learn hit her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, together with her automobile exterior the Canton dwelling of fellow police officer Brian Albert after an evening of heavy ingesting in January 2022 after which left him to die there throughout a serious blizzard.
The protection had argued that Learn’s automobile didn’t hit O’Keefe and as a substitute mentioned O’Keefe was attacked by a canine and crushed by different individuals who had been in the home earlier than he was thrown out within the snow to die.
Learn pleaded not responsible to the fees and has maintained her innocence.
In short remarks upon leaving the courthouse, she thanked her “superb supporters” for his or her monetary and emotional help for the previous practically 4 years.
“Nobody has fought tougher for justice than John O’Keefe than I’ve — than I’ve and my group,” Learn added.
Karen Learn leaves the courthouse after she was discovered not responsible of second-degree homicide on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Dedham, Mass.
Josh Reynolds/AP
Karen Learn embraces a supporter as she leaves the courthouse initially of the third day of jury deliberations in her trial at Norfolk Superior Courtroom, June 18, 2025, in Dedham, Mass.
Josh Reynolds/AP
Following the decision, a number of of the witnesses who testified towards Learn referred to as the results of the retrial “a devastating miscarriage of justice.”
“Right this moment, our hearts are with John and the complete O’Keefe household. They’ve suffered by means of a lot and deserved higher from our justice system,” members of the Albert and McCabe households mentioned in an announcement. “Whereas we might have extra to say sooner or later, in the present day we mourn with John’s household and lament the merciless actuality that this prosecution was contaminated by lies and conspiracy theories unfold by Karen Learn, her protection group, and a few within the media.”
Throughout deliberations, the jury requested 4 questions, together with, “If we discover not responsible on two costs however cannot agree on one cost, is it a hung jury on all three costs or only one cost?” the decide informed attorneys in court docket.
The decide informed the jury she isn’t in a position to reply to their query, telling attorneys it was a “theoretical query.”
The jury additionally requested about the timeframe for when Learn is accused of driving beneath the affect, whether or not video clips from Learn’s interviews concerning the case are to be thought-about as proof and if she is convicted on a sub-charge, if that might imply she is responsible on the general cost.
Karen Learn speaks after she was discovered not responsible of second-degree homicide on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Dedham, Mass.
Josh Reynolds/AP
In an uncommon second, Decide Beverly Cannone informed the courtroom earlier Wednesday that the jury had indicated through the lunch break that they’d reached a verdict, then up to date that they didn’t have a verdict. Cannone sealed that verdict slip and knowledgeable the court docket that there was not but a verdict “as a result of, as everyone knows, there is no such thing as a verdict till it’s introduced and recorded in open court docket.”
Learn’s first trial resulted in a mistrial in July 2024 after the jury couldn’t attain a verdict.
At the very least 4 jurors who served on her first trial final yr have confirmed that she was discovered not responsible of second-degree homicide and leaving a scene of private harm and dying, in line with Learn’s attorneys. Nonetheless, the jury couldn’t agree on the third cost of manslaughter whereas working a motorized vehicle beneath the affect, the attorneys mentioned.
Her legal professionals filed a number of appeals, all the best way to the U.S. Supreme Court, claiming Learn shouldn’t be retried on the counts the jury apparently agreed on, saying it will quantity to double jeopardy. Every enchantment was denied.
Karen Learn watches jurors enter the courtroom to renew deliberations throughout her trial at Norfolk Superior Courtroom, June 18, 2025, in Dedham, Mass.
Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger by way of AP
Learn’s attorneys made motions for a mistrial twice throughout her second prison trial, each of which had been denied by the decide.
Like her first trial, Learn didn’t take the stand in her personal protection.
“I’m not testifying,” Learn mentioned to reporters exterior the courthouse on June 10. “[The jury has] heard my interview clips. They’ve heard my voice. They’ve heard numerous me.”
Learn had added one of many alternate jurors from her first trial to her authorized group for the retrial. Victoria George, the alternate juror, is a licensed civil lawyer in Massachusetts.
