Karen Read Not Guilty of Homicide in 'Mercy Verdict,' Expert Says
Karen Read found not guilty of homicide but guilty of DUI. A Northeastern expert calls it a classic example of a jury’s “mercy verdict.”
news.northeastern.eduThe latest widely reported update on the Karen Read verdict is that a jury found her not guilty of second-degree murder (in the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe) but guilty of a lesser drunk-driving charge (DUI).[1][2]
What the verdict was
- Second-degree murder (John O’Keefe’s death): not guilty.[2][1]
- Lesser charge: guilty of driving under the influence (DUI).[1][2]
Immediate aftermath
- News coverage described reactions from Read’s supporters at court as the verdict was announced.[2][1]
If you want, tell me whether you mean the June 2025 verdict (the major retrial outcome) or any more recent appeal/retrial developments in 2026, and I’ll narrow it down.