The latest on the Karen Read murder case
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‘We won despite the process,’ Karen Read attorney Alan Jackson tells Howie Carr
“This is the most challenging case I’ve ever tried in my life,” Jackson said a day after Read’s murder acquittal.
Taking to the airwaves a day after he secured an acquittal for Karen Read on murder and manslaughter charges, defense attorney Alan Jackson praised his client’s mettle and took swings at both the judge and prosecutors.
“This is the most challenging case I’ve ever tried in my life,” Jackson told local radio host Howie Carr Thursday. “And we didn’t win because of the process; we won despite the process that was put in place in that Dedham courtroom. It was a travesty, in my view. An absolute travesty.”
Speaking to Carr, who’s been a vocal advocate for Read’s defense, Jackson said he never doubted the evidence or Read’s innocence in the January 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe.
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Still, he said he “significantly” doubted Read could get a fair trial in Norfolk Superior Court. She ultimately stood trial for murder twice in O’Keefe’s death, after a hung jury in her first trial prompted a mistrial last summer.
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“I think we may be the only duo, lawyer and client, who has gotten back-to-back acquittals on murder charges,” Jackson said, referring to reports that jurors in Read’s first trial unofficially agreed to acquit her of second-degree murder and another charge.
When he signed on last fall to lead prosecutors for Read’s retrial, special prosecutor Hank Brennan said his two “core obligations” were to make certain Read received a fair trial and to ensure the facts surrounding O’Keefe’s death were “fully and fairly aired in the courtroom without outside influence.”
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“That was just lip service,” Jackson fired back Thursday. “It was anything but that.”
He told Carr he believes prosecutors did not want jurors to hear all the evidence, witnesses, and experts in the case.
“I can handle a prosecutor. I can beat most prosecutors with my hands tied behind my back,” Jackson said. “The problem is when the judge is on the commonwealth’s side. … That makes life very difficult.”
He alleged Judge Beverly Cannone, who oversaw Read’s two trials, had a track record of “bizarre” rulings that benefitted prosecutors.
“It certainly seemed like Judge Cannone had an idea of what she thought should be presented to the jury and how she thought it should be presented to the jury, instead of just calling the balls and strikes,” Jackson said.
Carr asked Jackson whether he had any words for Cannone, and the Los Angeles-based attorney hedged a little before replying, “Just do better. Don’t try to put your thumb on the scale. … Let the evidence get before the tryer of fact in a fair and — above all else — an impartial way.”
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He added: “I did not feel this was an impartial judge.”
Jackson adopted a harsher tone in addressing Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey, who faced intense backlash and scrutiny following his decision to try — and then retry — Read for murder.
“Do better, sir,” Jackson demanded of the DA. “You are in the job of seeking justice. You’re not in the job of winning cases. … That’s all he was doing.”
Prosecutors had alleged Read was driving drunk the morning of Jan. 29, 2022, and struck and mortally wounded O’Keefe with her SUV while dropping him off at an afterparty in Canton. The defense, however, contended Read was framed as part of a botched and biased investigation. Jurors ultimately found Read not guilty of all major charges, only convicting her of drunk driving. She has been sentenced to a year of probation.
A former LA prosecutor turned heavy-hitting defense attorney, Jackson praised Read and said his client is feeling “phenomenal” following Wednesday’s verdict.
“She is the toughest woman I know,” Jackson told Carr. “She has a steel spine. She’s got no quit. She’s never given up.”
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He also described the hands-on approach Read took with her own legal defense, comprising Jackson and attorneys David Yannetti, Elizabeth Little, and Robert Alessi. While Read’s professional background is as an equity analyst at Fidelity Investments and adjunct professor at Bentley University, Jackson noted his client’s attention to detail in legal matters.
“She’s the unsung hero of the defense team,” Jackson said. “She’s as good a lawyer as I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen some damn good lawyers.”
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