Witnesses Criticise Verdict in Karen Read Acquittal
A group of witnesses central to the high-profile case involving the acquittal of Karen Read in the death of Boston police officer John O’Keefe have come forward to denounce the verdict. They have released a joint statement expressing their disappointment with the outcome of the trial. The witnesses, including Jennifer McCabe, Matthew McCabe, Chris Albert, Julie Albert, Colin Albert, Nicole Albert, Brian Albert, Kerry Roberts, and Court Roberts, were either present at the Canton, Massachusetts house party where O’Keefe died or provided testimony during the trial.
According to a statement shared by the communication firm BerlinRosen and obtained by PEOPLE, the witnesses expressed their solidarity with O’Keefe’s family and criticised the justice system’s handling of the case. They lamented what they described as a miscarriage of justice, attributing it to what they perceived as lies and conspiracy theories propagated by Karen Read, her defence team, and certain sections of the media.
John O’Keefe, who was romantically involved with Karen Read at the time of his death, reportedly passed away under tragic circumstances. Testimony revealed that the couple had been out drinking before Read supposedly drove him to the house party in Canton, where she allegedly remained. The next morning, Read claimed she discovered O’Keefe missing and, along with Jennifer McCabe, initiated a search that led to the discovery of O’Keefe’s body outside the home in a snowbank. He was found severely injured and unresponsive, later succumbing to his injuries at a nearby hospital.
The autopsy results indicated that O’Keefe died from blunt force trauma to the head, with hypothermia playing a role in his demise. Prosecutors contended that Read had struck O’Keefe with her SUV during a drunken altercation, abandoning him to perish in the cold. However, the jury harboured doubts regarding this narrative, resulting in Read being acquitted of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. Nevertheless, she was convicted of operating under the influence and received one year of probation.
Read’s defence team did not dispute her role in the incident; they argued that O’Keefe was still alive when she dropped him off at a fellow police officer’s residence in the early hours of the morning. They posited that O’Keefe was subsequently subjected to an attack, potentially by a dog or during a physical altercation, either inside or in the vicinity of the house. Allegations of a subsequent cover-up involving party attendees and law enforcement officials were raised, with claims of withheld or tampered evidence to shield certain individuals.
The defence highlighted inconsistencies in phone records, the deletion of text messages, and suspicious behaviour exhibited by witnesses present at the residence that evening. The case has elicited mixed reactions, with some supporting the acquittal verdict while others, including the witnesses who have spoken out, harbour reservations about the legal proceedings and the ultimate outcome. The broader implications of this case reverberate through the community, reigniting debates about justice, accountability, and the complexities of criminal investigations.