What is Karen Read accused of? How long could she be sentenced to jail if found guilty?

The trial of Karen Read, a Boston woman who stands accused of hitting her boyfriend with her SUV and leaving him on the side of the road, is winding down.

Ms. Read was charged with murder in the second degree and manslaughter, with prosecutors arguing that she intentionally killed her boyfriend on 29 January 2022. The victim was John O’Keefe, a police officer from Boston who had been with the force for sixteen years. Ms. Read was a financial analyst and professor at Bently University when she met O’Keefe, whom she had been dating for two years before his death.

Ms. Read’s legal team has refuted the idea that she hit him with her vehicle and is arguing that the injuries suffered by Mr. O’Keefe were from a bar fight he got into earlier that night. However, various witnesses, including one of the friends who was with Ms. Read when she discovered the body and the paramedics that arrived on the scene, claim they heard her say that she hit him, him being Mr. O’Keefe. The defense team has said that Ms. Read was not referring to hitting him with her car and that the couple had gotten into a physical altercation that night. Additionally, they argue that this testimony was given by a police officer looking to muddy the waters against Ms. Read and pin O’Keefe’s death on her. These disputes highlight the difficult tasks in front of the jury, which will have to decide whether or not Ms. Read will face prison time or walk free.

How long could Karen Read go to prison?

Currently, Ms. Read is out on bail. She posted bail needed to avoid staying in prison during the trial. However, if the jury finds her guilty, no payment will be large enough for her to escape incarceration. To convict, the jury of twelve members must be unanimous in their belief of her guilt. This is a very high bar to clear for prosecutors and the defense knows that.

The defense team attempted to argue that the judge should opt for a directed decision, which eliminates the power of the jury altogether. In that case, Ms. Read’s fate would rest with the judge who has overseen the case. The judge rejected this request.

Obviously, murder and man-slaughter charges are associated with longer prison sentences as they are some of the most violent and tragic crimes that one can commit. Those charged with second-degree murder are dealt a life sentence, though parole is possible after a minimum of 15 years, according to the law offices of William D. Kickham.