Shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday, Judge Beverly Cannone called all parties back into court to tell them that the jury knocked on the door during lunch to say they had a verdict, but later knocked again and said they didn't have one.
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WATCH HERE"During the luncheon break, I received word from a court officer that the jury had knocked on the door indicating that they had a verdict," Cannone said. "But before I could even summons everybody into court, you know, shortly thereafter, they knocked again and said they didn't have a verdict."
"So we do not have a verdict," she added. "As we all know, there is no verdict until it's been announced and recorded in open court."
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SIGN UP The judge asked all parties to remain in the courtroom until the end of the day. Just minutes later, word came out that a verdict had been reached and police began shutting down roads in the immediate area as everyone made their way back to court.
The jury found Read not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter charges but guilty of a lesser charge of drunken driving in the 2022 death of John O'Keefe, her Boston police officer boyfriend.
"It's yet another extraordinary development in what's turned out to be an extraordinary case," NBC10 Boston chief legal analyst Michael Coyne said afterward.
Court got underway at 9:02 a.m. Wednesday, a couple minutes later than usual because someone involved in the trial had minor car or transportation issues. After briefly addressing the jury, Cannone sent them back out to continue their deliberations.
Amended Karen Read trial verdict slip
The jury sent a total of four questions to Cannone on Tuesday, but NBC10 Boston experts say Cannone's responses were less than helpful on the third day of deliberations.
Jurors asked what time frame they should consider for the operating under the influence charge. Is it 12:45 a.m., which is when the prosecution alleges Read hit O'Keefe, or 5 a.m. when Read got in her car to find O'Keefe. Cannone told them they are the fact finders in this case and it's up to them.
Jurors also wanted to know if video clips from Read's media interviews that were played during trial are considered evidence and how should they consider them. Cannone said yes they are evidence and they should be given whatever weight the jury deems appropriate.
With the third question, jurors wanted to know if convicting guilty on a sub charge -- like offense 2 #5 -- convict on the overall charge. Cannone responded by amending the verdict slip, something that had previously been requested by the defense but denied by the judge.
The last question from the jury on Tuesday indicated there may be some disagreement amongst jurors. They asked, if we find not guilty on two charges but can't agree on one charge, is it a hung jury on all three charges or just one charge? Cannone responded saying that's a theoretical question that she could not answer.
Scenes from outside court on Karen Read verdict day
Crowds of Read supporters wearing pink gathered outside the Dedham courthouse Wednesday, eagerly waiting for news of a verdict in this case.
