The Trial Of Karen Read | Justice For John O'Keefe

By: True Crime Today
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  • Summary

  • In "The Trial of Karen Read," listeners are drawn into a gripping courtroom drama unfolding around the mysterious death of John O'Keefe. This investigative series explores the intricate details of the trial of Karen Read, the woman accused of a crime that has captivated the nation. Each episode delves into the evidence presented, the witnesses' testimonies, and the legal strategies from both the defense and the prosecution. As the trial progresses, the podcast also examines the broader implications of the case, including its impact on the local community, the justice system, and the media. With expert commentary from legal analysts, interviews with key figures close to the case, and a deep dive into the social and psychological dimensions involved, this series seeks to uncover the truth behind the headlines and answer the question: Is there justice for John O'Keefe? Join us as we piece together the story, challenge preconceptions, and follow every twist and turn in this compelling search for justice.
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Episodes
  • Karen Read's Lawyers Petition Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court for Dismissal of Charges, Citing Double Jeopardy

    Karen Read's Lawyers Petition Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court for Dismissal of Charges, Citing Double Jeopardy
    Sep 27 2024
    The legal team for Karen Read, accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, is petitioning the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to dismiss two charges she faces, including second-degree murder. Read is charged with allegedly hitting O'Keefe with her SUV and leaving him in a snowstorm in January 2022. Read’s defense attorneys argue that retrying her on these charges would violate her constitutional protection against double jeopardy. The brief filed by her attorney, Martin Weinberg, challenges an August decision by a lower court judge, who ruled that the case could proceed to retrial in January. "Where there was no verdict announced in open court here, retrial of the defendant does not violate the principle of double jeopardy," said Judge Beverly Cannone in her ruling. Weinberg's petition, however, argues that statements from five jurors after the mistrial show that they had unanimously decided Read was not guilty on two of the three counts. The mistrial was declared after jurors were deadlocked on a manslaughter charge, but according to the defense, they had already agreed to acquit her on the charges of second-degree murder and leaving the scene. "Surely, that cannot be the law. Indeed, it must not be the law," Weinberg wrote in the brief, contending that jurors' post-trial statements should be taken as evidence that they had reached a conclusion on the other counts. “And, in the context of this highly publicized case, it strains credulity to suggest that, if the unequivocal statements of five jurors quoted above did not, in fact, represent the unanimous view of all 12, the remaining jurors would allow the inaccuracy to go uncorrected,” the attorney added. The defense argues that had the remaining jurors disagreed, they would have notified the court. The Norfolk District Attorney’s Office disputes this narrative, asserting that no official verdict was reached on any of the charges before the mistrial was declared. Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally emphasized that the jury was given clear instructions and had ample opportunity to indicate if they had reached a decision. "The jury never indicated they had reached a verdict on any of the charges," said Lally. He also argued that the defense is relying on “hearsay, conjecture and legally inappropriate reliance as to the substance of jury deliberations.” The case has garnered significant attention, in part due to the allegations raised by Read’s defense team, who claim that she is being framed. They argue that O'Keefe was killed inside the home of fellow Boston officer Brian Albert, where O'Keefe was dropped off after a night of drinking, and that his body was later dragged outside. According to the defense, law enforcement focused on Read because she was a “convenient outsider.” An autopsy concluded that O'Keefe died from a combination of hypothermia and blunt force trauma. Prosecutors allege that Read hit O'Keefe with her SUV and drove away, leaving him in the snow. The defense also pointed to troubling behavior from some of the law enforcement officials involved in the investigation. State Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator, was removed from duty after it was revealed during the trial that he had sent offensive text messages, referring to Read as a “whack job” and expressing a desire for her to "kill herself.” Proctor later said his comments were a "figure of speech" and admitted to letting his emotions get the better of him. The Norfolk District Attorney’s Office is expected to respond to the petition by mid-October, and the court will determine whether Read's retrial will proceed as scheduled. Prosecutors remain firm in their stance that Read should be retried on all charges, citing the lack of a formal verdict and maintaining that their case is grounded in the evidence presented at trial. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
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    14 mins
  • Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to Review Karen Read Murder Case

    Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to Review Karen Read Murder Case
    Sep 23 2024
    The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has agreed to review Karen Read’s murder case, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal battle surrounding the death of Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe. Read, 44, is accused of striking O'Keefe with her SUV on the night of January 29, 2022, and leaving him outside to die in a snowstorm after a night of drinking. Read has consistently denied the allegations, with her defense arguing that O'Keefe was assaulted at a home in Canton, Massachusetts, before being left outside.

    Supreme Judicial Court Justice Elizabeth Dewar issued a court filing stating, “I hereby reserve and report this case, without decision, for determination by the Supreme Judicial Court for the Commonwealth. The parties shall prepare and file in the full court a comprehensive statement of agreed facts necessary to resolve the issues raised by the petition.” This decision sets the stage for oral arguments in November, with briefs due in September and October.

    This decision follows an appeal filed by Read’s attorney seeking to overturn a ruling by Norfolk Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone, who denied a motion to dismiss two of the three charges against Read—second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a deadly crash. The appeal focuses on testimony from jurors who claimed they were prepared to acquit Read of these charges during her first trial, which ended in a mistrial after the jury declared themselves hopelessly deadlocked.

    "After careful consideration, this court concludes that because the defendant was not acquitted on any of the charges and defense counsel consented to the court's declaration of a mistrial, double jeopardy is not implicated by retrial of the defendant," Judge Cannone wrote in her decision. The defense argued that retrying Read would violate double jeopardy protections, given the jury's stance during deliberations.

    Read’s legal team is preparing to submit a principal brief on the case by September 25, with prosecutors required to file their response by October 16. Read’s attorneys will have until October 25 to reply to the prosecution's brief, with oral arguments expected to take place in November.

    The case has garnered significant public attention due to conflicting narratives surrounding O'Keefe’s death. Prosecutors allege that Read struck O’Keefe with her vehicle outside the Canton home of fellow Boston Police Officer Brian Albert, leaving him to die in the cold. The defense, however, contends that O'Keefe was dragged outside after being beaten in the basement and bitten by a dog.

    The mistrial in Read’s first trial occurred on July 1, when the jury of six women and six men informed the court that they were deadlocked. The defense immediately requested the dismissal of the charges, citing reports from several jurors who said they were prepared to acquit Read on the charges of second-degree murder and leaving the scene.

    Karen Read's future now hinges on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's decision, with many eagerly awaiting the court’s ruling on her appeal.
    Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
    Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
    The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
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    9 mins
  • Formal Discipline for Canton Police Officer Kevin Albert Kept Confidential Amid Ongoing Investigations

    Formal Discipline for Canton Police Officer Kevin Albert Kept Confidential Amid Ongoing Investigations
    Sep 13 2024
    The town of Canton, Massachusetts, has formally disciplined Detective Kevin Albert following an investigation into his actions during a night of drinking with Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor in 2022. The allegations emerged during the Karen Read trial, in which Proctor served as the lead investigator. Despite the decision to discipline Albert, the exact nature of his punishment remains undisclosed due to ongoing investigations.

    Canton Police Chief Helena Rafferty stated that the investigative report into Albert's conduct is being withheld as it involves “ongoing investigations by other agencies.” Additionally, the disciplinary decision, made in a Select Board executive session, is classified as a personnel record, further limiting its disclosure.

    Albert's connection to the case has drawn significant attention, as his brother, Brian Albert, owns the home where Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe was found unresponsive in the snow on January 29, 2022. O'Keefe was the boyfriend of Karen Read, who was later charged with his murder. Read’s defense has argued that she was framed, implicating Proctor, the Albert family, and others in a potential cover-up.

    Proctor's testimony in the Read trial revealed text messages between him and Kevin Albert, further complicating the case. The defense raised questions regarding Proctor’s relationship with the Albert family and whether this influenced his handling of the investigation.

    The town confirmed that the discipline was decided after an independent investigation and a review by the Select Board, but they declined to share any details. Chris Albert, another of Kevin’s brothers, who serves on the Canton Select Board, recused himself from the decision-making process. The town and police department maintain that the records will be made public when the other ongoing investigations are completed.

    This development adds to the controversies surrounding the Karen Read trial, with Proctor currently under investigation and suspended without pay from the Massachusetts State Police. Read’s defense has consistently raised concerns about conflicts of interest, particularly involving the Albert family, and alleged misconduct by investigators during the case.

    As the town awaits the conclusion of the various investigations, it remains unclear what the long-term implications of this discipline will be for Kevin Albert and how it may impact the upcoming retrial of Karen Read.

    #KarenReadTrial #KevinAlbert #CantonPolice #MichaelProctor #JohnOKeefe #ConflictofInterest #CantonSelectBoard
    Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
    Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
    The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
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    14 mins
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Profile Image for Linda E.

So many commercials!

So many commercials, so little story. I like how the commentators are now just as confused as the world is.

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