Karen Read wept tears of relief as a crowd gathered outside the courthouse erupted in cheers following the jury's decision to acquit her of all charges except for one: drunken driving. The verdict, delivered after more than 20 hours of intense deliberation on Wednesday, had been anticipated after jurors hinted at their conclusion with two notes earlier in the day. Read, a 45-year-old resident of Mansfield, faced the possibility of life in prison if found guilty of second-degree murder, the most severe charge against her. She was also accused of manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.
In a poignant moment, Paul O’Keefe, the younger brother of victim John O’Keefe, was visibly affected upon hearing the jury's second "Not guilty" verdict concerning the manslaughter charge. Initially hopeful, he lowered his head and shook it slowly when the jury confirmed the lesser offense. Following the conclusion of the verdict, the O’Keefe family exited the courtroom in silence.
Outside, Read, flanked by her legal team, expressed her determination: “No one has fought harder for justice for John O’Keefe than I have.” Her father, Bill Read, shared his feelings of relief and gratitude to God, stating, “We need to get our life back together, and we will.”
The jury, which had endured 31 days of testimony over more than seven weeks, confirmed their decisions in a composed manner before Court Clerk James McDermott. One female juror displayed emotion as cheers erupted from supporters outside. All 12 jurors participated in the decision-making process, while six alternate jurors stood by. In light of safety concerns raised by at least one juror during last year’s trial, Judge Beverly J. Cannone ordered that the identities of the jurors be sealed for at least 10 days.
The jurors’ two notes earlier in the day hinted at their decision, focusing on the possibility of “lesser included” offenses that could only be linked to the manslaughter charge. Ultimately, the jury selected the least severe option: operating under the influence of liquor (OUI). Following the verdict, prosecutor Hank Brennan recommended that Read complete the state’s 24(d) program, which includes outpatient treatment, loss of license, and probation. He suggested a probation period of one year.
Judge Cannone questioned whether this was standard for a first-time OUI offender, to which Brennan affirmed. Defense attorney David Yannetti supported the idea, stating, “We ask that she be treated no differently, no better than anyone.” Cannone agreed, indicating she would impose standard treatment.
Retired state Superior Court Judge Jack Lu described the jury’s decision as “a stunning win for the defense,” noting that OUI typically does not result in jail time for first-time offenders. The day took a dramatic turn about an hour after the lunch break when Cannone summoned the parties back to court to reveal that the jurors had initially announced a verdict but then changed their minds shortly afterward. Only 20 minutes later, Cannone confirmed that a final verdict had been reached.
Prosecutor Hank Brennan, who was appointed as special prosecutor to replace last year’s prosecutor Adam Lally, characterized the case as straightforward: Read allegedly killed O’Keefe in a moment of jealousy stemming from a troubled relationship. “She got drunk, she hit him, she left him to die. It’s that simple,” he argued.
In contrast, defense attorney Alan Jackson contended that the evidence pointed to one inevitable conclusion: “There was no collision.” He highlighted the absence of typical vehicle strike injuries on O’Keefe's body, such as bruises or broken bones, and criticized the investigation conducted by the police as “corrupt” and inadequate. Jackson emphasized that reasonable doubt was abundant, urging the jury to reconsider the evidence thoroughly.
Observers noted that the defense's strategy during this retrial was more focused compared to the first trial. According to Boston defense attorney William Kickham, the initial defense leaned heavily on the theory that someone else had caused O’Keefe's death—a gamble that could have backfired. “On retrial, it was much wiser and clearly more effective to argue the kinetics and physics involved in the case,” Kickham explained. “If there was no collision, then the jury clearly couldn’t convict on murder or manslaughter.”
