Judge Declares Mistrial in Karen Read Murder Trial
On July 2, 2022, Judge Beverly Cannone declared a mistrial in the highly-publicized Karen Read murder trial as the jury was unable to reach a verdict. According to a note submitted by the jury: “We find ourselves deeply divided by fundamental differences in our opinions and state of mind.” A number of jurors believe that the evidence presented “does not sufficiently establish the necessary elements” required for a conviction.
Karen Read’s defense attorney, Alan Jackson of Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP, had a harsh appraisal of the prosecution’s case: “The Commonwealth did their worst. They brought the weight of the state based on spurious charges, compromised evidence and investigators, and compromised witnesses. They failed miserably, and they’ll continue to fail.”
Defense Attorney Alan Jackson Demolishes the Prosecution’s Faulty Case
During the trial, prosecutors argued that late at night on January 29, 2022, Read killed her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, by backing over him with her car. However, an accident reconstructionist hired by the FBI found that the victim’s body did not suffer from the type of injuries typically caused by contact with a motor vehicle. The FBI expert also noted that the damage to Read’s vehicle “was inconsistent with having made contact with John O’Keefe’s body.”
Read’s lawyer provided an alternative theory of how the officer was killed. He suggested that O’Keefe was fatally beaten inside the Canton home of a fellow police officer and then dragged outside.
Attorney Alan Jackson further pointed to several irregularities in the physical evidence that contradicted the prosecution’s cases. He also noted phone records that included several late-night cell phone calls made by police officers on the night of the murder — calls the officers were unable to recollect.
The defense attorney pounced on irregularities in the evidence put forward by the prosecution, and he punched holes in the inconsistent testimony provided by the police officers involved in the investigation. The case was marred by sloppy police work that included leaving the scene of the crime unattended for several hours and failing to search the house where the defendant’s lawyer speculated the murder actually took place.
In an odd turn of events, the lead investigator in the case, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor, admitted that he sent a series of sexist and offensive texts about Read in a private group chat where he referred to the defendant as a “whack job.” Proctor also told coworkers he had found “no nudes” on Read’s cell phone while he was searching for evidence. Mr. Proctor has since been relieved of duty.
During his closing arguments, defense attorney Jackson said: “Ladies and gentlemen, there was a cover-up in this case, plain and simple. You’ll surely say to yourself, ‘I don’t want to believe it… I don’t want to believe that could happen in our community.’ But, sadly, over these past eight weeks, you’ve seen it right before your eyes.”
Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyers Aggressively Defend Your Freedom
The criminal defense attorneys at Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP have a stellar reputation based on the notable success we’ve had defending several high-profile clients. Our lawyers have been featured on ABC News, Fox News, CNBC, the BBC, Esquire, and the Los Angeles Times. The independent rating agency Super Lawyers recognizes Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP for providing outstanding service to our clients, and we have an AV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
Call (213) 688-0460 today to schedule a case review with one of our experienced Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers today.
Contact Us
“We can handle any criminal case.
Anywhere. Anytime.”
What Our Clients Say
Previous Testimonial Next Testimonial- “Alan Jackson is hands down the best attorney we have worked with. Extremely professional, well liked in the court system and respected amongst all legal professionals. Took our calls at any given time and made himself available all the time.” - S.F. From Google Reviews
- “Perpetually impressed by the professionalism, thoroughness, follow through, and expertise that Mark Werksman, his fellow partners, and associates / admin staff all produce whenever I interact with them, professionally.” - Dru S.
- “Kelly is a brainiac. She's a certified criminal law appellate specialist - a rare achievement and qualification- and she fits into a very unique niche in criminal law. Her primary role at her firm (one of, if not THE best criminal defense firm in los angeles) is research and writer...” - Joseph W.
- “Having Alan Jackson as my lead attorney on 3 separate cases (one felony, and two misdemeanors) was the best decision of my life. I was facing 6-8 years in prison, and he was able to have all three charges dismissed. He's got the skills, connections, and the charisma to aid anyone in any situation...” - Anonymous