Watch persevering with protection within the video participant atop this story after the decision within the carefully watched case was learn in Norfolk Superior Court docket. Get reside updates from courtroom in our weblog.
The jury in Karen Learn’s retrial reached a verdict on Wednesday, discovering her responsible on a cost of working underneath the affect however not responsible on the homicide and leaving the scene prices over the demise of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe.
Learn was sentenced moments after the decision was learn — she acquired a one-year probation.
The decision was greeted with raucous cheers exterior courtroom, the place a big crowd of Learn’s many supporters had gathered. She greeted them about half an hour later, thanking them in short remarks for his or her monetary and emotional help through the years.
“No one has fought harder for justice for John O’Keefe than I have, than me and my team,” Learn mentioned.
The jury, which was seated April 15, started deliberating Friday after listening to closing arguments. That they had a number of questions for the choose on Tuesday, together with, “If we find not guilty on two charges but can’t agree on one charge is it a hung jury on all three charges or just one charge?”
There was a weird twist shortly earlier than the decision got here in, when Decide Beverly Cannone known as the events again to courtroom to say that jurors had reached a verdict, solely to shortly take it again.
Prosecutors had alleged that Learn killed O’Keefe, who was a Boston police officer, along with her SUV whereas dropping him off at a house on Fairview Highway in Canton, Massachusetts, early on the morning of Jan. 29, 2022. O’Keefe was discovered within the snow about 6 a.m., and he was pronounced lifeless after being rushed to the hospital.
Learn’s attorneys argued that she was framed, and their claims in help of that idea, together with the disputed Google search “hos long to die in cold,” have attracted each supporters and detractors nationwide.
Norfolk County District Legal professional Michael Morrissey has but to touch upon the decision.
Decide Beverly Cannone declared a mistrial within the Karen Learn homicide case Monday after receiving a 3rd word from the jury expressing that they had been at an deadlock. Learn was accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, in January 2022.
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This was Learn’s second homicide trial. The primary, in 2024, led to a mistrial over a hung jury.
However the protection mentioned that, afterward, they had been contacted by some jurors who reported that the panel unanimously agreed Learn was not responsible on two of the three prices and solely break up on manslaughter cost. On that foundation, they sought to have these prices dropped, and when Cannone denied that movement, they appealed — all the best way to the Supreme Court docket.
Get evaluation of day-after-day in courtroom, and extra, from our staff of consultants on “Canton Confidential” — together with tonight at 7 p.m. ET on NBC10 Boston and streaming on our YouTube.
What are the fees Karen Learn confronted?
Prosecutors introduced three separate prices towards Learn:
Second-degree homicide is essentially the most severe cost, and if convicted, Learn may face life in jail.
Manslaughter whereas working a motorcar underneath the affect of liquor alleges that Learn was driving drunk when she hit and killed John O’Keefe along with her SUV.
Leaving the scene of an accident leading to demise alleges that Learn left the scene after hitting O’Keefe with out offering any help or reporting the incident.
The second cost, manslaughter, had a number of choices of lesser prices that the jury may select to search out her responsible of as an alternative:
Involuntary manslaughter
Motorized vehicle murder, with one or each of the next:
by working a motorcar underneath the affect of liquor
by working a motorcar with a blood alcohol degree of .08% or larger
Working underneath the affect of liquor, with one or each of the next:
by working a motorcar underneath the affect of liquor
by working a motorcar with a blood alcohol degree of .08% or larger
See the decision slips, which the protection unsuccessfully tried to have amended, right here:
What occurred throughout Karen Learn’s homicide trial? What occurs subsequent?
Use this YouTube playlist to observe the complete day in courtroom from day-after-day of the trial — toggle between movies by clicking the button on the highest proper.
Atone for every thing that occurred within the trial, with evaluation on what’s coming subsequent as nicely, on our day by day podcast, “Canton Confidential: The Karen Read Murder Trial.” There shall be a brand new episode tonight.
You may obtain episodes wherever you get podcasts, or hear under:
