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Karen Read found not guilty on murder, manslaughter charges — replay the verdict

A jury cleared Karen Read of all but the least serious offense — drunk driving — following a lengthy trial for the murder of Boston Police Office John O’Keefe, her boyfriend. Outside the courtroom, Read, flanked by her lawyers, said “No one has fought harder for justice for John O’Keefe than I have.” Following Wednesday’s verdict, prosecutor Hank […]

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1 month ago

June 19, 2025

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Karen Read found not guilty on murder, manslaughter charges — replay the verdict

A jury cleared Karen Read of all but the least serious offense — drunk driving — following a lengthy trial for the murder of Boston Police Office John O’Keefe, her boyfriend.

Outside the courtroom, Read, flanked by her lawyers, said “No one has fought harder for justice for John O’Keefe than I have.”

Following Wednesday’s verdict, prosecutor Hank Brennan recommended Read be required to complete the state’s 24(d) program, which includes outpatient treatment, loss of license and probation, a sentence that is standard for first time drunk driving convictions in Massachusetts.

The announcement came after Judge Beverly J. Cannone previously summoned the parties to the court and said the jury announced they had a verdict — and then changed their minds moments later.

“During the luncheon break I received word from a court officer that the jury had knocked on the door indicating that they had a verdict,” Cannone announced just before 2:30 p.m. “But before I could even summons everybody into court, shortly thereafter they knocked again and said they didn’t have a verdict.”

But their almost-verdict was sealed in a manilla envelope, which Cannone then formally sealed, in the court process sense, to preserve for the record.

“So we do not have a verdict because as we all know there is no verdict until it is announced and recorded in open court,” Cannone said. “I would ask everyone to remain in the building until the end of day.”

From media pundits to conversations overheard by devoted onlookers who came to wait in Dedham, many believed a verdict would come today in the trial.

The theory was sparked by two notes the jury sent to Judge Cannone that appeared to indicate they were narrowing down their choice and could be nearing a decision. But that decision did not come on Tuesday and they were released, even a little early.

Then the morning hours passed today and jurors entered their lunch break without a peep.

“The length of today’s deliberations suggest that the judge was wise to release the jury a little early yesterday and not hold them late,” retired state Superior Court Judge Jack Lu told the Herald.

“Today, they have been deliberating for more than three hours, and the clock is ticking,” he added. “This suggests that trying to get a verdict yesterday would have been not only a bad idea, but futile.”

Earlier story

Tension is high in Dedham as Karen Read murder retrial jurors continue deliberating after sending two notes Tuesday hinting they may be nearing a decision.

You can watch the trial proceedings live in the player below. Court is due to start today at 9 a.m.

“If we find not guilty on two charges but can’t agree on one charge, is it a hung jury on all three charges or just one charge?” the jury asked in the late afternoon Tuesday.

Taken alongside an earlier note asking, in part, “Does a guilty on a sub-charge … convict on the overall charge?” the question suggests jurors are weighing a lesser-included offense.

Read, who has often talked to the media during the trial, was tight-lipped when court took its lunch break following the jury’s first question. Her attorneys are barred by a gag order from talking.

But her father, Bill Read, spoke briefly:

“I just want my daughter home. And free,” he told reporters.

The case

Read is charged with killing Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, her boyfriend, by striking him with her car on Jan. 29, 2022.

The 45-year-old former financial analyst and college lecturer from Mansfield is indicted on three charges: second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle under the influence, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.

The manslaughter charge also comes with subordinate, or “lesser included,” charges jurors can consider if they determine her actions do not make her guilty of the primary offense: involuntary manslaughter, motor vehicle homicide and operating under the influence of liquor, or OUI.

Jurors began deliberating after closing arguments Friday afternoon and had been at it for more than 15 hours before they were released for the day Tuesday. The jury’s work is informed by 31 days of testimony spanning more than seven weeks.

Questions answered

The jury’s first note in full asked three easily answered questions: “What is the time frame for the OUI charge?” “Are video clips of Karen’s interviews evidence?” “Does a guilty on a sub-charge … convict on the overall charge?”

The answers Cannone provided are, in order: “You are the factfinders” to the timeframe, since no time is stated in the indictment; “Yes, the videos are evidence. You should weigh the defendant’s statements in the video as you would any other piece of evidence”; and for the third gave further instructions on the slip and issued a revised verdict slip.

As for the later note, on whether the jury would be hung if it agreed on two but not a third charge, Cannone declined to answer.

“This is a theoretical question, not one that I can answer,” she said.

She did so over defense objection.

But retired state Superior Court Judge Jack Lu said that her answer was “perfect” and suited to the goal of the jury. He backed up her stated reasoning that jurors are not to consider the implications of their decision, but instead to just make their best decision carefully.

“The goal is not to ‘get a verdict.’ The goal is for the jury to reach a careful, well-considered verdict,” Lu told the Herald on Wednesday. “We are asking the jury for the statement ‘Here is the truth.’ Not ‘Here is a result.’ The difference is critical to achieving justice.”

“Sometimes a jury that is in the throes of deliberations will flail about by asking questions. A jury will say, ‘Well, let’s ask the judge this question.’ Of course, the accommodating foreperson agrees. In this situation they are avoiding the real hard task: deliberating to a verdict.”

This is a developing story.

Nancy Lane/Boston Herald

A crowd show their support as Karen Read leaves court at the end of the day Tuesday after jurors had finished deliberation for the day at Norfolk Superior Court. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)

Originally Published: June 18, 2025 at 8:11 AM EDT

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Best quotes from day eleven of the World Aquatics Championships

Day eleven of the World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025 delivered drama and thrill as artistic swimming crowned new champions, while Greece stunned by defeating defending champions USA in the women’s water polo semi-final, setting up a gold medal showdown with Hungary on Wednesday. In the artistic swimming competition, athletes delivered flawless performances across the […]

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8 minutes ago

July 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

In the artistic swimming competition, athletes delivered flawless performances across the Men’s Solo Free Finals and Women’s Duet Technical Finals, while twenty six teams competed in the Team Technical Prelims with eyes on championship glory.

Hear more about it all below.

Artistic Swimming

Filippo PELATI (ITA) – Bronze in the Men’s Solo Free Finals

On the result:

“I’m very happy with my performance because I didn’t expect the result. I was only enjoying the moment and I only felt the music and the choreography and thought about nothing. I’m very proud of myself and happy to win a bronze. It’s very important for me; it’s like a gold medal and I’m very emotional.”

On his first World Championships medal:

“Now it’s confirmed, because last year I took part in the junior worlds in Lima and I won the bronze in the mixed duet technical and placed fourth (in both solo free and technical). So for me, now (this) seems like a gold. And also because it’s with all the best male artistic swimmers – every (swimmer) is the best one. I’m very proud.”

Eirini-Marina ALEXANDRI (AUT) – Gold in Women’s Duet Technical Finals

On whether being twins gives them an advantage:

“We have a special connection because we know how we feel. I know how she feels even if I just look at her, so I know what I have to tell her to calm her down. And the same applies for her; she knows everything about me and we can communicate very easily. If it’s another girl, then sometimes maybe you have to be careful how you tell them things.”

Water Polo

Kathy ROGERS (GBR), captain and Player of the Match – re. FRA V GBR (9-14)

On their Singapore 2025 campaign and the future:

“There’s going to be a really good future. It’s going to be really big. We’re getting more support from Swim England and Aquatics GB, so it’s a really exciting time.”

Tilly KEARNS (AUS), Player of the Match – re. AUS-JPN (21-17)

On how close the match was:

“From a disappointing quarter-final, it’s always hard to get up and play another game when it’s not for a medal and it’s not for the result that you want. But we’re a team that always gets around each other and we love each other a lot, so we wanted to play for each other.”

Eleftheria PLEVRITOU (GRE), captain – re. GRE v USA (14-10)

On the match:

“It was amazing today. We played really good. My team is ready for the final, ready for the gold. At the beginning, it was just the attack that we were stuck a little bit. We couldn’t score. That’s why, I think the score was close. Until the third quarter, it was close…We played amazing in the last minutes. We controlled the game with the time.”

Boglarka NESZMELY (HUN), Player of the Match – re. HUN v ESP (15-9)

“It was a perfect win from us. Our team, we played really, really good water polo. We did what the coach said so thanks to my teammates, thanks to my coach and to everybody who helped us. I’m so blessed to be a part of this team because it’s a huge thing for us, reaching the final. Our team is basically a new team and we have a lot of young players, including me, so it’s a huge thing for us. It means everything because Hungary is a water polo nation and I’m so thankful.”

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Bentley volleyball earns 12th consecutive AVCA Team Academic honor

Story Links WALTHAM, Mass. – Make it a dozen. The Bentley volleyball program earned is 12th consecutive Team Academic Award, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) recently announced. Teams must have a minimum 3.30 GPA to qualify. AVCA Release The 2024 Falcons maintained their academic prowess while reaching new heights on […]

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21 minutes ago

July 22, 2025

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WALTHAM, Mass. – Make it a dozen. The Bentley volleyball program earned is 12^th consecutive Team Academic Award, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) recently announced. Teams must have a minimum 3.30 GPA to qualify.

AVCA Release

The 2024 Falcons maintained their academic prowess while reaching new heights on the court. Last year, Bentley won its second consecutive NCAA East Regional title and reached the NCAA Semifinals for the first time in program history.

Bentley’s historic NCAA run included a five-set win over Ferris State in the national quarterfinals. It was Ferris State’s first and only loss of the season.

The Falcons finished the season with an overall record of 26-7. The AVCA’s final national poll of 2024 put Bentley at No. 18, marking the program’s first-ever national ranking.

For their off-court success, Elizabeth Blinn, Erica Borzone, Jazzy Burke, and Caitlin Wunder each earned Academic All-District honors from College Sports Communicators (CSC).

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Floréal adds Keilah Tyson to Track and Field coaching staff

Story Links AUSTIN, Texas – Head Track and Field/Cross Country Coach Edrick Floréal announced the addition of Keilah Tyson as an assistant coach of sprints, hurdles and jumps on Monday. Tyson is an accomplished track and field coach and former professional athlete with over eight years of coaching experience at the high […]

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36 minutes ago

July 22, 2025

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AUSTIN, Texas – Head Track and Field/Cross Country Coach Edrick Floréal announced the addition of Keilah Tyson as an assistant coach of sprints, hurdles and jumps on Monday.

Tyson is an accomplished track and field coach and former professional athlete with over eight years of coaching experience at the high school and collegiate levels. A standout sprinter and jumper herself, Keilah competed as a Tier 3 athlete with Team USA, training under legendary coach Brooks Johnson and competed alongside Olympic gold medalists.

“We are thrilled to be adding Coach Tyson to our staff. Her experience at the high school and professional level will prove to hold huge value to our program,” Floréal said. “Her ability to develop young athletes is clear through their accomplishments at the next level of their careers. Coach Tyson will make an immediate impact on our program and we’re excited to have her get started here.”

Tyson most recently served as the boys and girls indoor and outdoor sprints and relays coach at Varina High School. While at Varina, she coached eight regional champions and 25 all-regional honors. The indoor campaign produced six all-state finishes and eight all-region awards. Tyson helped 16 athletes qualify for the Virginia State Championships and ended with seven all-state performances. Prior to Varina, Tyson coached at Mills E. Godwin High school from 2021-23 where the team won Regionals, 11 state titles, 15 all-region honors and recorded four school records. She was also an assistant at Richard Bland College where she worked with both the men and the women’s short sprinters and jumpers.

“I’m extremely honored to serve as an assistant coach at the University of Texas and to be a part of a program with such a rich legacy,” Tyson said. “This opportunity truly fells like the culmination of everything I’ve been working toward by entire life. Track and Field has always been my passion and having been mentored by Coach Floréal, it’s a dream come true to now work alongside him and contribute to this incredible program. My goal is to pour into our student-athletes not just physically, but mentally to realize their full potential.”

Tyson began her coaching career as the head coach at Powhatan High School where she led athletes to unprecedented success—breaking all sprint, jump, and relay records in her first year in 2019. Her leadership produced two national champions, 16 all-state athletes, 10 school records, two Virginia state champions and one state runner-up from 2019-2021. Notably, she coached Anthony Greenhow, the boys’ 100m and 200m state champion and record holder, who went on to earn a full scholarship at South Carolina.

Tyson, a standout track and field athlete at the University of Kentucky, ran under Floréal and was part of the Runner-Up team in 2015. She holds 16 All-SEC honors, multiple NCAA All-American recognitions, and is the Virginia state record holder in the 100m dash and long jump.

Tyson is deeply committed to developing athletes both physically and mentally, fostering teamwork, discipline, and a winning mindset in every program she leads.

“As I step into my first role as an NCAA Division I coach, my goal is to build on my eight years of experience by making a meaningful impact both on and off the track,” Tyson said. “I hope to contribute to the tradition of excellence at Texas by helping develop athletes who are not only physically prepared, but also mentally strong and confident in their abilities. I want to create an environment where athletes believe in themselves and understand what’s possible through hard work and discipline. Ultimately, my goal is to help the team compete at the highest level while also preparing these young men and women for success in life beyond track and field.”

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Memphis Volleyball Named to AVCA Team Academic Honor Roll

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Memphis volleyball program was named as a recipient of the 2025 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award, per a release by the AVCA Monday morning. The Tigers also carried the distinction of being named to the Team Academic Honor Roll. Memphis has earned the AVCA Team Academic […]

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38 minutes ago

July 22, 2025

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LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Memphis volleyball program was named as a recipient of the 2025 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award, per a release by the AVCA Monday morning. The Tigers also carried the distinction of being named to the Team Academic Honor Roll.

Memphis has earned the AVCA Team Academic Award in each of the last eight years, also earning Team Academic Honor Roll recognition in each of the past four years. The Tigers are one of seven Division I programs to have earned that distinction every year from 2022-25.

For a program to qualify for the AVCA Team Academic Award, it must carry a collective team GPA of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale during the academic school year. To be recognized on the Team Academic Honor Roll, a program’s team GPA must be in the top-20 percent of all programs within its playing division.

ABOUT THE AVCA:

The association’s mission is to advance the sport of volleyball with AVCA coaches at the epicenter of leadership, advocacy and professional development. The membership includes more than 10,000 collegiate, professional, high school, club and youth volleyball coaches, primarily in the United States. The AVCA represents women’s volleyball, men’s volleyball and beach volleyball coaches, and works to increase exposure and recognition for the sport of volleyball.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE TIGERS:

For complete information on Memphis Tigers Volleyball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team’s social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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Portland Sees Record 216 Student-Athletes Make Commissioner’s Honor Roll

Story Links SAN BRUNO, Calif. – The West Coast Conference announced on Monday the WCC Commissioner’s Honor Roll for the 2024-25 academic year. 216 student-athletes from the University of Portland made the list this year, an increase from 183 last season and the highest total ever for the Pilots. The Commissioner’s […]

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59 minutes ago

July 22, 2025

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SAN BRUNO, Calif. – The West Coast Conference announced on Monday the WCC Commissioner’s Honor Roll for the 2024-25 academic year. 216 student-athletes from the University of Portland made the list this year, an increase from 183 last season and the highest total ever for the Pilots.

The Commissioner’s Honor Roll highlights student-athletes who achieved high levels of success both on the field and in the classroom. The honor roll recognizes student-athletes that posted at least a 3.0 GPA with 12 credit hours per term while also earning a varsity letter in a sport where the WCC crowned a champion. 1,681 student-athlete made the list this season, just shy of the record-1,686 student-athletes last season.

Honors are split up into three categories. Gold honors go to student-athletes with a GPA between 3.75 and 4.0 on a 4.0 scale, silver honors go to those with a 3.50 to 3.74 GPA and bronze honors are for student-athletes sitting between a 3.0 and a 3.49. Portland had 83 student-athletes earn gold honors, 56 earn silver and 77 earn bronze.

It’s been a record year in the classroom for the Pilots, with Portland student-athletes posting a 3.52 GPA as a whole for the highest department-wide GPA in school history. 20 Pilots earned WCC All-Academic First Team honors this year and 68 student-athletes graduated this spring, including the Class of 2025 valedictorian in UP cross country and track runner Tommy Paltzer. With a Graduation Success Rate of 94%, the Pilots have posted a GSR above 90% for 13 years in a row.

Below is the full honor roll from the 2024-25 academic year.

2024-25 WEST COAST CONFERENCE COMMISSIONER’S HONOR ROLL BREAKDOWN

Institution	Gold Honors 4.00-3.75	Silver Honors 3.74-3.50	Bronze Honors 3.49-3.00	Totals
Gonzaga	86	83	94	263
LMU	53	43	75	171
Pacific	50	36	56	142
Pepperdine	39	35	71	145
Portland	83	56	77	216
Saint Mary’s	41	48	71	160
San Diego	53	55	96	204
San Francisco	63	42	34	139
Santa Clara	63	64	114	241
TOTALS	531	462	688	1,681

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Volleyball Honored With Ninth Straight AVCA Team Academic Award

Story Links AVCA Release 2025 Volleyball Schedule HICKORY, N.C. – For the ninth consecutive year, the Lenoir-Rhyne Volleyball Team has earned an AVCA Team Academic Award. The Bears maintained a 3.72 team GPA over the course of the 2024-25 season, […]

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1 hour ago

July 22, 2025

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HICKORY, N.C. – For the ninth consecutive year, the Lenoir-Rhyne Volleyball Team has earned an AVCA Team Academic Award. The Bears maintained a 3.72 team GPA over the course of the 2024-25 season, tied for the best athletic program GPA at Lenoir-Rhyne last year.

To be granted this award, the team has to have maintained a year-long GPA of at least a 3.3 on a 4.0 scale. In total, a record 1,450 collegiate and high school volleyball teams maintained a GPA of at least a 3.3 (or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale).

“We’re incredibly proud of our team for earning the AVCA Academic Award, which stems from one of our core goals of always having a high team GPA,” said Head Coach Nicole Barringer. “This recognition reflects the hard word and dedication our athletes consistently show in the classroom. Academic success is always a top priority for our team and we’re committed to maintaining that standard year after year.”

The Bears will begin their season in Hickory on Friday-Saturday, September 5th-6th, with the Lenoir-Rhyne Season Opening Invitational. They face off against Lees-McRae on Friday before taking on Mount Olive and Florida Tech on Saturday. Conference play opens with a home matchup against Anderson on Tuesday, September 16th.

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