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Dedham, June 13: The sidewalk outside Norfolk Superior Court felt more like a town square on Friday than the perimeter of a murder trial. From the early hours of the morning, a crowd of Karen Read supporters formed under gray Massachusetts skies—many wrapped in pink scarves or T-shirts, the adopted color of a cause that’s gone well beyond a single courtroom.
By mid-morning, they were singing, handing out water, and waving placards that read “Reasonable Doubt Established” and “Free Karen Read.” One woman rocked her week-old infant in a carrier, gently bouncing as she repeated what’s become a rallying cry: “It’s all so twisted… so corrupt.”
Inside the courthouse, it was a different kind of intensity.
Both Sides Rest Their Case, But Not Their Convictions
The retrial of Karen Read, a 45-year-old former finance professor, has drawn national attention—partly because of the stakes, but also because of the narrative that’s unfolded. She’s accused of striking her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, with her SUV after a night of drinking in January 2022 and leaving him to die in the snow outside a friend’s home in Canton.
Prosecutors painted a picture of recklessness and callousness. Special Prosecutor Hank Brennan, in his final appeal to the jury, described Read as intoxicated, angry, and fully aware of what had happened.
“She made a decision,” Brennan said, standing firmly before the jury. “She left. John O’Keefe was lying helpless in that yard, and she drove away.”
The state presented forensic data indicating impact at roughly 24 mph, with taillight debris matching Read’s vehicle. Toxicology results estimated her blood alcohol level could have ranged between 0.14% and 0.29%—well above the legal limit.
But for many who’ve followed this case closely, it’s the defense’s version of events that has changed the conversation.
Defense Allegations Shift Spotlight to Investigators
Attorney Alan Jackson offered a narrative that turned the focus away from Read entirely. He accused law enforcement of mishandling the investigation and covering up key details to protect their own. The most striking element was his direct criticism of lead investigator Michael Proctor, who was removed from the case after it emerged he had sent derogatory texts about Read, including calling her “a wack job” and predicting she was “f–ked.”
“This was not a pursuit of justice,” Jackson told jurors. “It was a campaign to frame a woman that certain people in this system didn’t like.”
The defense claimed O’Keefe never entered Read’s car that night and that he may have been assaulted inside the home where the party was held. They called into question inconsistencies in witness statements and raised the possibility of physical injuries—such as dog bites and head trauma—not aligned with a hit-and-run scenario.
They also challenged the credibility of Jennifer McCabe, a friend of the O’Keefe family, who testified that Read confessed by saying, “I hit him.” That line, the defense noted, was never included in her initial police interviews.
The Public Turns a Trial into a Movement
What began as a tragic case has grown into something larger: a movement, or at least a deep-seated belief among a segment of the public that Read has been wrongly targeted. Some of that momentum was fueled by an HBO docuseries, A Body in the Snow, which took a critical view of the investigation and helped propel the case into national discourse.
Supporters outside the courthouse echoed its impact.
“I didn’t think much of her at first,” said Amanda Rooney, who flew in from Texas to attend. “But the more I watched, the more I thought—this doesn’t add up. Something’s not right.”
Another supporter, who traveled from Maine with her 12-year-old daughter, said the case has been a way to teach her child about “fighting for truth.” The girl held a cardboard sign that read, simply: “I believe Karen.”
A Town Split, An Institution Questioned
Back in Canton, where the events of that night unfolded, reactions are mixed. The community, once unified in grief, is now marked by division. A recent town meeting saw heated debate over calls for an independent review of the local police department’s role in the investigation. That review is now underway.
“This has shaken a lot of us,” said one Canton resident, who declined to give his name. “It’s not just about what happened to John or Karen. It’s about who we trust.”
Deliberations Begin With Stakes at Their Peak
Jurors began deliberations late Friday, following more than a month of testimony, forensic breakdowns, and legal maneuvering. They’ve been tasked with weighing charges including second-degree murder, manslaughter, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.
A conviction could mean life in prison. An acquittal—or another hung jury, as happened in Read’s first trial—would raise even more questions about the state’s case and its handling.
No one—not even those closest to it—can say where this will end. But for the supporters holding vigil outside, the belief is unwavering: that Karen Read is a scapegoat, not a killer. For them, the verdict won’t just determine a woman’s fate—it will speak volumes about justice in Massachusetts.
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