Commonwealth v. Read — Trial Archive
Norfolk Superior Court · Dedham, Massachusetts

Commonwealth v. Karen Read

Complete transcript archive of both criminal trials with video-synced YouTube playback.

No. 2282CR00117 · Second-Degree Murder · Manslaughter (OUI) · Leaving the Scene
618proceedings
118,890utterances
99people
71trial days
Proceedings
First Criminal Trial
Mistrial
April 29 – July 1, 2024
35 days· 57 witnesses· 61,149 utterances
Hung Jury after 27 hours of deliberation across 5 days
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Retrial
Verdict
April 22 – June 18, 2025
36 days· 41 witnesses· 57,741 utterances
Dismissed Second-degree murder (double jeopardy) Not Guilty Manslaughter Not Guilty Leaving the scene Guilty Operating under the influence
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People Witnesses, attorneys, law enforcement, experts. Cross-referenced to testimony across both trials.
Evidence Canonical catalog of physical, digital, and documentary evidence. Exhibit labels cross-referenced across both trials.
Locations The places at the heart of the case — 34 Fairview, the Waterfall, Canton PD. Testimony, quotes, and evidence anchored to each.
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The Case

Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe was found dead in the snow outside 34 Fairview Road in Canton, Massachusetts on the morning of January 29, 2022. His girlfriend, Karen Read, was charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene.

The prosecution alleged Read struck O'Keefe with her SUV while reversing at 24 mph. The defense alleged he was beaten inside the house by people with ties to law enforcement, left in the snow, and that Read was framed.

The first trial ended in a mistrial after 27 hours of deliberation. The murder charge was dismissed on double jeopardy grounds before retrial. Read was acquitted of manslaughter and leaving the scene, and convicted of OUI.