# Karen Read Trial? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 18, 2025, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karen-read-trial/1019819 "2025-06-18T22:21:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![19USMC69](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/ac91a4/32.png) [@19USMC69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/19USMC69)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karen-read-trial/1019819/1 "2025-06-18T22:21:10Z")
Karen Reed has been through 2 lengthy trials. Legal fees must have been astronomical. While I don’t know anything about her, it’s hard to imagine she could could have come up with that amount of money. Anyone know who paid? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karen-read-trial/1019819/2 "2025-06-18T22:22:33Z")
It’s Karen Read Here is the background > **[Death of John O'Keefe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_John_O%27Keefe)** > > On January 29, 2022, at 6:03 am, Boston police officer John O'Keefe was found unconscious on the front lawn at 34 Fairview Road in Canton, Massachusetts. The residence belonged to Brian Albert, a fellow Boston police officer (now retired). O'Keefe's body was discovered by his girlfriend, Karen Read, along with Jennifer McCabe and Kerry Roberts. The women went searching for him after he failed to return home that morning. He was later declared dead at 7:59 am at Good Samaritan Medical Center in... ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karen-read-trial/1019819/3 "2025-06-18T22:32:47Z")
> **[Karen Read sells home and taps retirement fund to pay mounting legal bills in...](https://www.foxnews.com/us/karen-read-sells-home-taps-retirement-fund-pay-mounting-legal-bills-murder-retrial)** > > Facing life in prison, Karen Read turns to crowdfunding to cover $5 million legal fees in her second murder trial, highlighting the financial burden of high-profile cases. So selling house and retirement assets, public fundraising from supporters and perhaps reduced fees from attorneys (because of the PR value). ---
**Author:** ![JaneA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@JaneA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneA)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karen-read-trial/1019819/4 "2025-06-18T22:44:37Z")
She was just acquitted of all charges except for DUI. ---
**Author:** ![19USMC69](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/ac91a4/32.png) [@19USMC69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/19USMC69)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karen-read-trial/1019819/5 "2025-06-18T23:26:04Z")
Massachusetts tried her twice. First was a hung jury. The second resulted in acquittal on the two serious charges. Seems only fair the state should reimburse for most of her legal fees. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karen-read-trial/1019819/6 "2025-06-18T23:43:07Z")
> [@19USMC69](#): > > Seems only fair the state should reimburse for most of her legal fees. That’s not the way the law works. In a civil suit, lawyers fees might be awarded. In a criminal trial, however, the state makes its case. They didn’t get a conviction. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karen-read-trial/1019819/7 "2025-06-18T23:52:40Z")
> [@19USMC69](#): > > Massachusetts tried her twice. First was a hung jury. The second resulted in acquittal on the two serious charges. Seems only fair the state should reimburse for most of her legal fees Good luck with that. Unless you can demonstrate clear prosecutorial misconduct—and prosecutors have a very broad range of authority in deciding how to investigate and who to prosecute—the state can claim sovereign immunity against any civil actions. The officers who may well have lied on the stand, however, are not so covered for perjury or actions that did not occur in the line of duty. However, Read also acknowledged mistruths in her testimony, which would indicate against her integrity as a witness, and in a civil trial with the standard of ‘preponderance of evidence’ that’s going to be a large hurdle to overcome. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![19USMC69](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/ac91a4/32.png) [@19USMC69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/19USMC69)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karen-read-trial/1019819/8 "2025-06-19T01:56:11Z")
I have no idea as to whether she did the crime or not. Apparently most on the jury didn’t know, either. ---
**Author:** ![pirviii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pirviii/32/3233_2.png) [@pirviii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pirviii)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karen-read-trial/1019819/9 "2025-06-19T04:03:13Z")
I watched the first trial and would have been unable to convict based on the evidence provided in court. I didn’t watch the second, appears the outcome was the same. Personally I think she did it, but there just isn’t enough evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karen-read-trial/1019819/10 "2025-06-19T13:44:24Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > > [@19USMC69](#): > > > > Seems only fair the state should reimburse for most of her legal fees. > > That’s not the way the law works. In a civil suit, lawyers fees might be awarded. In a criminal trial, however, the state makes its case. They didn’t get a conviction. Oh well. Whatever she got from a civil suit might be more than balanced by what she’d conceivably be asked to pay herself. > [@](#): > > Though her criminal case is over, Read still faces civil litigation. O’Keefe’s family has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against her and two bars where the couple drank that night. [Key takeaways from the acquittal of Karen Read in her Boston police officer boyfriend's death | What's next - ABC11 Raleigh-Durham](https://abc11.com/post/key-takeaways-acquittal-karen-read-boston-police-officer-boyfriends-death-whats/16789135/#:~:text=She%20was%20convicted%20of%20drunken,the%20couple%20drank%20that%20night). A civil jury might not be sympathetic to the Vast Police Conspiracy defense. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karen-read-trial/1019819/11 "2025-06-19T14:56:06Z")
She could be a defendant in a civil suit from the family of the dead cop. ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karen-read-trial/1019819/12 "2025-06-19T17:51:44Z")
I think the OP has been answered, but found this re her attorneys for the second trial from the wiki link above: > Two additional lawyers joined her defense team: Robert Alessi and **Victoria George, an alternate juror in Read’s first trial**. That’s a pretty neat tactic. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karen-read-trial/1019819/13 "2025-06-19T17:54:17Z")
> [@CoolHandCox](#): > > That’s a pretty neat tactic. Genius. Who has better insight on what worked and didn’t work? ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karen-read-trial/1019819/14 "2025-06-19T18:11:58Z")
During the first trial I went out for drinks with a bunch of former co-workers. We very much live in the neighborhood of where all this is happening, and a large part of the conversation was the in and outs of that trial. I had followed none of it, but was amazed at how fervently people had a feeling one way or another. Vague shades of the OJ trial a million years ago, though I’m not sure how this one became so big. There’s also a billboard up on Route 1 somewhere reading “Free Karen Read!” or somesuch. People love this stuff. If there isn’t a gofundme or whatever, she could easily do one. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karen-read-trial/1019819/15 "2025-06-19T20:03:02Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > People love this stuff. If there isn’t a gofundme or whatever, she could easily do one. > [@](#): > > A [Justice for Karen Read legal defense fund](https://www.payit2.com/fundraiser/114014), organized by Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP, has raised more than $900,000 from more than 11,000 donors. Donations have continued to flow during her second trial. > **[Fundraisers. A home sale. Retirement funds. How Karen Read paying her hefty...](https://www.patriotledger.com/story/news/courts/2025/05/05/karen-read-murder-trial-john-okeefe-defense-canton-ma/83324670007/)** > > Before her second trial even began, accused murderer Karen Read owned her attorneys more than $5 million in deferred fees. Plenty of marks out there to donate more money, buy her book (if she writes one), pay to hear her speak etc. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karen-read-trial/1019819/16 "2025-06-19T20:22:36Z")
> [@CoolHandCox](#): > > > Two additional lawyers joined her defense team: Robert Alessi and **Victoria George, an alternate juror in Read’s first trial**. > > That’s a pretty neat tactic. Huh, I’d have thought that that would fall under conflict of interest rules. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karen-read-trial/1019819/17 "2025-06-19T20:33:05Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > I had followed none of it, but was amazed at how fervently people had a feeling one way or another. Vague shades of the OJ trial a million years ago, though I’m not sure how this one became so big. I honestly had heard of it until the verdict yesterday. I’m also not sure why it’s national news. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karen-read-trial/1019819/18 "2025-06-19T20:44:10Z")
Never mind… ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karen-read-trial/1019819/19 "2025-06-19T20:49:43Z")
I’m only vaguely familiar with it. I’ve read an article, but it kind of assumed I was already familiar with the case. Could someone give me a quick recap of why the prosecution’s case failed? ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karen-read-trial/1019819/20 "2025-06-19T21:07:06Z")
So I’ve obviously seen this in the news everywhere lately but I didn’t follow the case when it happened. Based on the wiki here, I’m struggling to see how this even went to trial. The injuries don’t seem at all consistent with a broken tail light. Am I missing anything? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karen-read-trial/1019819.md?page=2)