Cop Killer or Snow Job?

An in-depth look at the Karen Read mistrial

By: Todd McGee

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

The Karen Read trial captured attention throughout New England, making front page headlines for more than two years. Could an attractive, educated and successful woman be capable of the cold-blooded killing of her boyfriend, a respected Boston police officer?

The trial lasted nine weeks. The prosecution’s case hinged on a series of statements she reportedly made when first responders arrived on the scene and a broken taillight on her SUV. Read’s high-profile defense lawyers capitalized on the notoriety surrounding the case and concocted a wild story about her being framed to cover up another Boston police officer’s involvement.

COP KILLER OR SNOW JOB is a day-by-day look at the witnesses and evidence presented, analyzing the pieces of the puzzle put together by the prosecution. Each day's report ends with a summary of key points and a guilty meter showing which side moved the needle, if any.

This account only considers information presented to the jury. Go through the evidence, read what the witnesses said and saw, and make your own determination. What missteps did the prosecution or defense make? Which witnesses resonated with the jury? Decide for yourself if the jury got it right.

Author’s notes

• Many instances of adult language are included for context, including multiple uses of the F word.
• Because so many trial witnesses are family members, they are referred to by first name to avoid confusion.
• The victim’s niece and nephew, both minors, testified in the case, but their testimony was not shown on the television broadcasts. As a result, it is not included in this summary, other than a brief mention by assistant district attorney Adam Lally in his closing argument.