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Here's a detailed timeline and cast of characters based on the provided sources:

  • Writer: Cassian Creed
    Cassian Creed
  • Jun 24
  • 6 min read

Timeline of Main Events in the Karen Read Trial

January 2020 (approximate):

  • John O'Keefe's body is found on a snowy night in Canton, Massachusetts.

  • Karen Read is identified as connected to the incident.

  • Initial police investigation begins. Jurors later express concerns about its thoroughness, citing "too many flaws, too many holes," missing reports, and issues with video evidence (e.g., "glint" on sailport video, missing Ring light video).

  • Evidence collected includes pieces of a tail light found scattered near O'Keefe's body at 34 Fairview.

  • Allegations of John O'Keefe having dog bite and scratch wounds surface, leading to suspicion of a dog attack.

  • Allegations are made that Jennifer McCabe searched "how long to die in the cold" at 2:27 AM.

Early in the Investigation/Trial Process:

  • Karen Read is arrested and charged with manslaughter and leaving the scene of a deadly accident.

  • A first trial takes place. The jury is deadlocked, resulting in a mistrial. This is not surprising to Juror 11, who has a law background.

Second Trial (Retrial) - The "Trial of the Century":

  • During the Trial:Prosecutors allege Karen Read struck John O'Keefe with her Lexus SUV.

  • The defense argues that Read is innocent and suggests a frame-up, though Juror 11 cannot confirm this "outside the courtroom."

  • Key evidence discussed includes:

  • Tail Light: Pieces found at 34 Fairview. Jurors question how they got there, considering possibilities like O'Keefe breaking it himself or someone planting it.

  • Injuries to John O'Keefe: Jurors note that the injuries "don't connect with the tail" and that they couldn't see evidence of a "collision from a car a 24 miles per hour" on O'Keefe's body (specifically his arms). They also note concerns about dog bite and scratch marks.

  • Video Evidence: Concerns about a "glint on the video of the sailport" and a "missing part of the video of the ring light in Jo's house."

  • Expert Testimony: Engineers are cited as "very important" witnesses by Juror 11.

  • Witness Credibility: Jurors express distrust in some witnesses, feeling they "hide information" or "didn't behave as we expected." Specific police officers like Kelly Dever and Nicholas are mentioned as behaving in ways that raised suspicion (e.g., Dever's smirk, Nicholas's interactions with lawyers). Jurors observe "Yuri clenching his fists" and Judge Beverly's perceived bias.

  • Censored Evidence: Juror 11 notes that garage photos were "censored," raising suspicion that the Commonwealth didn't want them to see something potentially beneficial to Read.

  • Witnesses who did not testify but were wished for: Jurors express a desire to hear from "Ryan," "Heidi," and "Brian Albert."

  • Judge Cannone's conduct: Jurors note a perceived bias in Judge Cannone's rulings, particularly regarding objections from defense lawyer Alan Jackson versus prosecutor Hank Brennan. Juror 11 describes the judge as "pleasant" and "kind" but observes a pattern of allowing Jackson's objections while sustaining Brennan's. Other jurors feel Judge Cannone was "biased towards the prosecution."

  • Juror Dynamics: Jurors actively discuss evidence, using it to answer questions and avoid "rabbit holes." They note some initial personal opinions but emphasize sticking to the presented evidence. Some jurors took prolific notes, while others, like the foreman, did not, but were still engaged.

  • Public Influence: Jurors state they were not influenced by public pressure or "Karen Read supporters" outside the courthouse. Juror 11 was initially unaware of "Turtleboy" and environmental issues.

  • Closing Arguments: Deliberations begin after receiving instructions from the judge and listening to closing arguments.

Verdict (June 18, 2024, or near that date):

  • The jury delivers a "Not Guilty" verdict for Karen Read on charges of manslaughter and leaving the scene of a deadly accident.

  • The foreman states that Karen Read "didn't do this crime."

  • The Special Prosecutor expresses disappointment, stating the evidence "led to one person and only one person."

  • Karen Read is sentenced to a year of probation for her one conviction: operating under the influence.

  • The acquittal results in celebrations outside the courthouse.

Aftermath/Jurors Speaking Out:

  • Juror 11 (Paula Prado): Gives an "in-depth insightful interview." She states she initially had a "judgmental" first impression of Karen Read due to her calm demeanor but grew to admire her for her sharp participation in the trial. Prado highlights the lack of evidence for a 24 mph collision, the suspicious "red shards" (tail light fragments) in O'Keefe's clothing, and the unconvincing nature of the "dummy arm" demonstration. She also expresses suspicion about censored evidence and witnesses who "hide information." She clarifies that her wearing pink had "nothing to do with my support" for Read's supporters.

  • Jury Foreman: Speaks out publicly, reiterating that the decision was based on "all the evidence that we was presented with." He emphasizes that the prosecution "didn't do their jobs to prove that to us." He hopes the case can be reopened to find who "actually did that to John." He also mentions his sadness for John O'Keefe's family, feeling they didn't get justice. He states there were "too many coincidences to be... straight her fault." He later adds that he believes "Karen Read is innocent." He notes that if a body were found on his front steps, his house "would have been stormed" by police, contrasting with the police's actions in this case. His history includes knowing Boston Marathon bombing terrorists and a victim due to his work with at-risk youth.

  • Other Jurors: Various jurors, including Juror 4 and Juror 12, also speak out, discussing controversial aspects of the trial, police conduct (like Kelly Dever's testimony), and their perspectives on the judge's bias. Juror 12 reportedly looked for specific evidence but couldn't find it. A juror named Ronnie describes wanting clarification from Judge Cannone.

  • Public Reaction: Online discussions show both support for the jury's decision and criticism, with some attacking the jurors for their reasoning. There's a debate about whether jurors should use personal experiences in their judgment and whether police conduct influenced the verdict. Concerns about doxxing of jurors are raised.

Cast of Characters

  • Karen Read: The defendant in the "trial of the century," accused of manslaughter and leaving the scene of a deadly accident in the death of John O'Keefe. She was found not guilty of these charges but convicted of operating under the influence, for which she received one year of probation. Juror 11 initially found her calm demeanor surprising but later admired her intelligence and participation in the trial.

  • John O'Keefe: The deceased, a Boston police officer whose body was found on a snowy night in Canton, Massachusetts. His family sought justice, and jurors expressed sadness for them despite the acquittal of Karen Read. The nature of his injuries and their consistency with a vehicular collision were key points of contention in the trial.

  • Paula Prado (Juror 11): A juror in the retrial of Karen Read. She has a law background from Brazil. She was instrumental in the "not guilty" verdict, citing lack of connecting evidence (injuries to tail, video inconsistencies), and perceived unreliability of some witnesses and censored evidence. She initially judged Read's calm demeanor but later admired her active participation in the trial.

  • Jury Foreman: The head juror in the Karen Read retrial, whose name has been kept private for confidentiality reasons. He publicly stated that the prosecution failed to prove their case and that Karen Read "didn't do this crime," believing she is innocent. He expressed sadness for O'Keefe's family but asserted that the police investigation was flawed. He revealed his past connections to the Boston Marathon bombing (knowing both terrorists and a victim through his work with at-risk youth) and his belief that law enforcement acted differently in this case than they would for an "average" citizen.

  • Judge Cannone (Judge Bev): The judge presiding over the Karen Read trial. Jurors had mixed opinions on her, with some finding her "pleasant" and "kind" and others perceiving a bias towards the prosecution based on her rulings on objections.

  • Hank Brennan: The prosecutor in the Karen Read trial. He expressed disappointment in the verdict, maintaining that the evidence pointed to Karen Read as the sole person responsible. Jurors commented on his "great crossing" examinations but also noted perceived attempts to mislead.

  • Alan Jackson: One of Karen Read's defense lawyers. Jurors observed that Judge Cannone frequently allowed his objections.

  • Kelly Dever: A police officer and witness in the trial. Her testimony was a point of controversy, with some jurors and observers questioning if she "lied on the stand or lied to the feds." Juror 11 found her "smirked" demeanor noteworthy.

  • Officer Nicholas: Another officer mentioned as a witness whose interactions with lawyers were "very important" to Juror 11.

  • Jennifer McCabe: Mentioned as a witness Juror 11 discussed in depth and a person alleged to have made a suspicious search query ("how long to die in the cold"). Jurors largely dismissed the significance of this search based on explanations given.

  • Brian Albert: A person whose testimony or involvement was significant enough that jurors wished he had testified. His house was the location where O'Keefe's body was found nearby.

  • Ryan & Heidi: Individuals that jurors wished had testified in the trial.

  • Turtleboy: A blogger or personality known for covering the Karen Read case and displaying "Free Karen Read" billboards. Juror 11 was initially unaware of who he was.

  • Laposata and Russell: Medical experts whose opinions, based solely on photographs without examining the patient, were questioned for their medical acceptability and their roles as "former experts for hire."

  • Yuri: A person whose "clenching his fists" was noted by Juror 11, contributing to perceptions of bias or untrustworthiness.

  • Welcher: A witness discussed by Juror 11.

  • Dr. Wolfe: A medical professional whose testimony was mentioned in relation to the trial.

  • Rentschler: A name mentioned in the context of trial proceedings.

  • Alessi and Yannetti: Lawyers who gave interviews after the trial, discussed by Reddit users.

  • Runkle (The Runkle of the Bailey): A Canadian lawyer on YouTube who interviewed Alessi and Yannetti.

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