Tense moments exchanged on day two of jury deliberations in Karen Read trial

DEDHAM, Mass. (WLNE) — Wednesday was the second day of jury deliberations in the Karen Read murder trial at Norfolk County Superior Court, including a tense moment between Read, her defense and Judge Beverly Cannone.

In court Wednesday morning, Read’s defense raised concerns over the language on a verdict form given to jurors and asked for a revision to the not-guilty language on that form.

During that exchange, Read could be heard laughing, to which Judge Cannone replied, “Excuse me? This is funny, Ms. Read?”

Ultimately, Judge Cannone agreed to adjust the language and clarified the change with the jury.

Read is accused of hitting her Boston police officer boyfriend John O’Keefe with her SUV outside of a Canton home in 2022 and leaving him to die in the cold.

The defense argues Read is the victim of a cover-up involving Massachusetts State Police.

The jury could find Read guilty of second-degree murder or choose a lesser charge.

In addition to second-degree murder, jurors could find Read guilty of vehicular manslaughter while under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.

The jury can also pick one of those two lesser offenses without finding Read guilty of murder.

Deliberations will continue Thursday morning.