27-04-2025
Karen Read murder trial: Second trial not the end of Read's legal troubles
Karen Read's second murder trial is now underway. But this trial is not it for Read's legal troubles.
Read, 45, is accused of killing her boyfriend, Braintree native and Boston police officer John O'Keefe outside a Canton home in January 2022. Read's first trial in O'Keefe's death ended in a mistrial in July.
O'Keefe's family in August filed a civil lawsuit in Plymouth Superior Court against Read and two bars in Canton that she and O'Keefe visited before his death.
John O'Keefe's brother, Paul O'Keefe, and his estate filed a civil lawsuit in Plymouth Superior Court in August against John O'Keefe's girlfriend, Karen Read, and Canton bars C.F. McCarthy's and the Waterfall.
The suit is seeking at least $50,000 in damages including "reasonably expected society, companionship, comfort, guidance, counsel, net income, services, assistance, protection, care, and advice to next of kin."
The lawsuit states Read's conduct was "extreme and outrageous, beyond the bounds of decency and was utterly intolerable" and that she "outrageously created a false narrative."
Read's counsel filed motioned to stay the civil case until the criminal case is resolved, arguing that parallel civil and criminal proceedings could undermine Read's Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination.
Judge William White Jr. in November ordered the halt of Read's scheduled deposition in the civil case and any other discovery directly related to her. Other discovery proceedings were allowed to continue without pause, according to the ruling.
Read was charged with second-degree murder after O'Keefe's body was found in the driveway outside the Canton home of a fellow Boston police officer Jan. 29, 2022, during a snowstorm. Prosecutors say Read was drunk and angry when she purposely hit him after a night of drinking at C.F. McCarthy's and the Waterfall.
But defense attorneys for Read say she was framed for O'Keefe's death.
Read is also charged with manslaughter while driving drunk and leaving the scene of personal injury and death.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: What is the status of Karen Read's civil case? O'Keefe family sues
