Closing Arguments Conclude After Eight Weeks of Testimony
Friday marked the end of closing arguments in the karen read trial, as prosecutors and defense attorneys delivered final messages in Read’s second murder trial over the death of Boston police officer John O’Keefe. After eight weeks of proceedings, Judge Cannone dismissed the jury for deliberations at roughly 2:40 p.m., setting the stage for a decision on charges including second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death.
The jury, now numbering 12 from the original 18 empaneled, began deliberations and finished Day 1 around 4:35 p.m., ending without a verdict. The judge had read instructions starting at about 1:30 p.m., clarifying reasonable doubt and explaining the selection of alternates.
Prosecution’s Final Appeal: “Data Doesn’t Lie”
Prosecutor Hank Brennan framed the commonwealth’s case succinctly. “She was drunk. She hit him. And she left him to die.” He urged jurors to focus on phone and vehicle data. Asserting “the timeline in this case is beyond dispute.” Key points included:
- Read’s blood alcohol level was nearly two to three times the legal limit.
- Data showed Read’s SUV moved 87 feet in reverse around the time O’Keefe’s phone locked for the last time.
- O’Keefe’s location data placed him near the flag pole outside Brian Albert’s house all night, with his phone battery temperature dropping suddenly.
- Voicemails: Less than 30 minutes after returning home, Read left O’Keefe a message saying, “Nobody knows where you are.” The next morning, she called a friend, Jennifer McCabe, saying she left him at a bar, then called Kerry Roberts suggesting she thought he’d been “hit by a plow.”
- An interview clip where Read wondered if O’Keefe tried to flag her down as she drove away, indicating she knew she hit him.
Brennan displayed a photo of O’Keefe in his closing, emphasizing that while the exact collision details remain unclear, the data confirms an impact occurred. He portrayed the relationship as “toxic,” recalling testimony of past arguments. And urging jurors to consider the sequence of actions when Read realized O’Keefe was missing.
Defense Challenges Investigation Integrity
Alan Jackson, Read’s attorney, urged jurors to question the handling of evidence and potential bias in the investigation. He highlighted:
- Scene management: Investigators did not secure the area around O’Keefe’s body or treat Albert’s house as a crime scene, and failed to secure a neighbor’s ring camera.
- Investigator bias: Lewd texts by Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor referred to Read as “crazy,” and comments suggested favoritism toward O’Keefe as a fellow officer.
- Alternative theories: Surveillance video showed Albert at the Canton police station in early hours before O’Keefe’s body was found. The defense suggested the Alberts sent their dog away, raising questions about cuts on O’Keefe’s arm potentially caused by the pet rather than a vehicle.
- Forensic doubts: No medical expert testified definitively that O’Keefe was struck by a car. Defense noted the mismatch between alleged taillight cuts and puncture holes in his clothing.
- Closing message: Jackson asked, “Don’t you have questions?” He argued that if confidence in the prosecution’s case isn’t “unshakeable,” jurors must acquit. He insisted the science “doesn’t take sides” and that jurors should “stare down injustice.”
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Jury Instructions and Deliberation Process
Judge Cannone explained reasonable doubt, stating it “does not mean beyond all possible doubt.” She described the jury selection: 18 initially empaneled, randomly choosing 12 to deliberate, with six alternates. She indicated she would hand the case to jurors by the end of Friday, hoping to avoid sending them home for the weekend without instructions. Each side received an hour and 15 minutes for closing arguments, followed by the judge reading instructions after a lunch break, and jurors were asked to stay until around 5 or 5:30 p.m. to begin deliberations.
Day 1 ended without a verdict, leaving the karen read trial verdict in the hands of the jury. Observers following the karen read trial live coverage noted the deliberate pace and thorough instructions as crucial for a fair decision.
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Public Interest and CourtTV Coverage
The case has attracted nationwide attention, with many tuning into karen read trial live today on CourtTV. True-crime fans and supporters held demonstrations professing Read’s innocence after the first trial ended in a mistrial nearly a year ago. The current retrial’s developments, including this latest jury phase, continue to be covered extensively:
- How to watch: CourtTV streams live from Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Massachusetts, with proceedings beginning at 9 a.m. ET.
- Trial updates: Viewers can follow karen read trial update segments to track closing arguments, jury instructions, and deliberation progress.
- Verdict watch: As jurors deliberate, many are checking sources for karen read verdict watch notifications to learn the outcome once reached.
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What’s at Stake in the Karen Read Trial
The jury must weigh all presented evidence and testimony over eight weeks to decide if Read is guilty on charges of second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death. The retrial follows a mistrial in her first trial, and public interest remains high. Jurors’ decision will hinge on whether the commonwealth’s evidence is “unshakeable” or if reasonable doubt persists.
For those following karen read trial today or seeking karen read live updates, the focus is now on the jury’s verdict. The outcome will conclude a case that has spanned years, drawn media scrutiny. And raised questions about investigative practices.
Stay tuned to TNN for the latest on the karen read trial update, courtroom developments. And the eventual karen read verdict.
