Karen Read’s supporters and critics clash outside courtroom as jury fails to reach verdict in police officer’s death

Karen Read’s trial attracts large audiences

Read, who has been charged in the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, is receiving support and outcry from people who were practically milling around outside the courthouse. (Patriot Pics/Backgrid for Fox News Digital)

Supporters and critics of Karen Read, who is accused of murdering her ex-boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, clashed Friday outside a Massachusetts courthouse where a jury failed to reach a verdict in the case.

“Free Karen Read!” supporters shouted, and opponents held signs reading “Rot in Jail” and “Guilty.”

“Looking at the evidence, looking at the fact that the laws of physics say he wasn’t hit by a car,” the 44-year-old Read supporter said in an interview on Fox News Digital Friday.

“You have both the state (medical examiners) saying the injuries were not caused by the car accident, and then you have two forensic pathologists who are on the defense side who are also saying the same thing. The fact that this case even went to trial is ridiculous.”

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Supporters of Karen Read (center) who believe she is innocent of the murder of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, clash with critics who say she is guilty Friday outside the courthouse in Massachusetts. (related press)

One of her critics, holding a sign that read “Karen Read killed a man,” told Fox News Digital: “I think there’s never a hard proof in the criminal justice system. There shouldn’t be. It’s the totality of the evidence that either exonerates or incriminates someone, and the totality of the evidence points to Karen Read and no one else, from her vehicle data to the victim’s GPS data to the taillight near the scene to the taillight on his clothing. The DNA results. It all points to Karen.”

Read’s critics say some of her supporters harassed O’Keefe’s family.

“These witnesses are getting death threats every day. It’s just disgusting to John’s memory,” Julie Guinto told reporters outside the courthouse.

Her supporters blame the police on “corruption”.

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Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe. (Boston Police Department via AP)

“It’s unbelievable. The poor woman was framed,” Michael Ward told reporters. “Not only has it not been proven, it’s been proven innocent.”

Read is accused of driving an SUV into O’Keefe, 46, while drunk in January 2022 and leaving him in the snow to die.

Jurors — six men and six women — in the two-month trial are expected to return Monday for a fifth day of deliberations in a Dedham courtroom outside Boston after failing to reach a verdict Friday in the case that has drawn national attention.

Read’s defense lawyers argued that she was framed by O’Keefe’s colleagues, who killed him and dumped his body.

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Many of Read’s supporters showed up each day at her trial, but Friday was the first day they came into contact with those who believe she is guilty.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.