Karen Read was cleared of homicide and manslaughter costs Wednesday, as an enormous crowd of her supporters roared with applause outdoors of the courthouse in Dedham, Massachusetts. The jury discovered her responsible solely of working drunk (OUI).
Judge Beverly Cannone then sentenced Learn to 1 yr of probation after the decision was introduced.
Learn’s supporters were so loud outdoors it was tough for some contained in the courtroom to listen to what was being stated when the long-awaited verdict was learn. There have been greater than 1,000 individuals outdoors as confetti flew across the steps of the courthouse.
You possibly can watch dwell protection from the courthouse on CBS Information Boston within the video above.
Learn was charged with second-degree homicide, manslaughter whereas working drunk, and leaving the scene of bodily damage and loss of life within the loss of life of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, in January 2022. She pleaded not responsible to the entire costs.
There was no assertion but from the prosecution or O’Keefe’s household on the decision.
Karen Learn’s response to verdict
Learn spoke briefly to the crowd celebrating outdoors the courthouse.
“I simply wish to say two issues. Primary is I couldn’t be standing right here with out these superb supporters who’ve supported me and my crew financially, and extra importantly emotionally for nearly 4 years,” Read said close to the courthouse steps.
“The second factor I wish to say is nobody has fought more durable for justice for John O’Keefe than I’ve, than I’ve and my crew. Thanks.”
Josh Reynolds / AP
The jury started deliberating late Friday afternoon and mentioned the case for about 90 minutes earlier than returning for extra deliberations Monday. The panel of seven ladies and 5 males had the case for about 20 hours complete.
Karen Learn jury verdict confusion
Reaching a verdict didn’t go easily. Simply after the lunch break Wednesday afternoon, the jury stated they’d reached a verdict, then adopted up minutes later saying they actually had not. Choose Cannone despatched the jury again to proceed deliberating, however minutes later they declared they’d formally reached a verdict.
Throughout closing arguments Friday, prosecutor Hank Brennan stated Learn was driving drunk when she dropped O’Keefe off at a house in Canton, backed over him together with her SUV in a rage over their failing relationship and drove off, leaving him to die in a snowstorm.
Learn’s lawyer Alan Jackson informed the jury in his closing that there was no automobile crash and that O’Keefe was killed in a struggle inside the house and that risk was by no means investigated by the lead investigator, Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor. Proctor was fired for his conduct within the case. He was not known as to testify on this trial.
If Learn had been convicted of second-degree homicide, she confronted as much as life in jail, with the potential of parole.
Learn’s first trial resulted in July 2024 with a mistrial resulting from a deeply divided jury. They deliberated for 5 days in that trial.
Karen Learn retrial
The second trial started on April 22. The jury heard from 49 witness throughout 31 days of testimony earlier than getting the case on June 13. They’d entry to greater than 200 items of proof, together with the taillight from Learn’s SUV and John O’Keefe’s garments from the evening he died.
