A new court filing Friday claims four jurors in Karen Read’s murder trial contacted the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office, with one saying Read was unanimously acquitted of two counts she was accused of, including murder.
Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally received an unsolicited voicemail and three emails from would-be jurors on Sunday, July 21, who stated, “It is true what was recently reported about the jury being unanimous on counts 1 and 3.” .
Defense Presentation: 4th Juror Says Karen Read ‘Not Guilty’ of Murder in John O’Keefe’s Death
On Friday, July 26, prosecutors say Lally received another unsolicited voicemail from the same individual, stating, “I can unanimously confirm on counts one and three, not guilty and at last vote 9-3 guilty on counts of manslaughter… on the lower level manslaughter charges.
The Commonwealth did not respond to the jurors due to ethical violations in the juror deliberation process.
The prosecutor’s office also stated that prior to this it received three emails from individuals who identified themselves as jurors and wanted to speak anonymously.
On July 16, the Commonwealth reportedly responded to the emails stating that it would “appreciate the opportunity to discuss the Commonwealth’s evidence or case, however, we are ethically prohibited from asking about the content of the jury’s deliberations. This would include their individual or collective jury thought process, the content of their deliberations, or the reasons for their decisions.”
After saying the prosecutor’s office could not promise confidentiality, the three would-be jurors refused to continue communication.
In a statement, Read’s defense attorney, David Yannetti, said the following:
The Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office, in its new filing, finally admits that it received the same information that the defense received from jurors: Karen Read was acquitted of two charges, including murder.
We now hope that the Public Prosecutor’s Office will do the right thing and dismiss, at the very least, charges 1 and 3.
Of course, our position remains that all three charges should be dismissed because they accused the wrong person. If you persist in pursuing this unfair accusation, we are ready to defend our innocent client, no matter how long it takes.
The full file can be read here:
New court filing says 4 jurors contacted Commonwealth claiming Karen Read was acquitted of two charges per Boston Table 25 on Scribd
In mid-July, Judge Beverly Cannone indefinitely extended an order to seize the jury list for Read’s murder trial after jurors once expressed fear for their safety.
‘I’m scared’: Karen Read jury list seized indefinitely after juror expresses fear for safety
“I am concerned for my personal safety knowing that someone associated with this case has been criminally charged with intimidation,” said the juror in question, listed as “Juror Doe,” in an affidavit filed in Norfolk Superior Court. “I also recall the testimony of at least one witness who described being harassed by individuals and her family being harassed because of her involvement in this case. I do not know any of the details of such harassment, but I fear that my family and I will not only be harassed if the jurors’ names are made public, but that our personal safety will be seriously compromised.”
Read is accused of killing O’Keefe by hitting him with his SUV and leaving him in a Canton snowstorm in January 2022.
Prosecutors said Read and O’Keefe were drinking heavily before she left him at a party at the home of Brian Albert, a fellow officer. They said she hit him with her SUV before driving away.
The defense sought to portray Read as the victim, saying O’Keefe was killed inside Albert’s home and then dragged outside and left for dead.
His first trial ended with a hung jury and a mistrial. Read’s second trial is tentatively scheduled for January 27, 2025.
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