It was cold murder.
Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe died from blunt force trauma to the head and hypothermia about 25 miles outside Canton, Massachusetts, during a January snowstorm.
Karen Reed, a former financial professional and O'Keefe's girlfriend at the time, is accused of running over and killing O'Keefe during a drunken fight and then fleeing the scene.
But her trial, once seen as a “slam dunk” case for prosecutors, turned out to be an elaborate cover-up and had nothing to do with the person who left him out in the cold. A hung jury ended in a hung jury in July after she argued there was no such case. To die.
Karen Reed pleads murder charge in police boyfriend's death as double jeopardy
Karen Reed, right, listens to a Canton police sergeant after the day's jury is dismissed. Michael Rank is questioned by defense attorney Alan Jackson. (Pat Greenhouse/Boston Globe via Getty Images)
A spokeswoman for the Norfolk District Attorney's Office told FOX News Digital that a judge has already cleared the way for a second trial scheduled for January 27, but both sides have asked the court has requested that the trial be postponed to April 1st. The justices have not yet decided on the case, and the state Supreme Court is considering whether to dismiss the two charges, including the top charge of second-degree murder, if the case goes back to trial. are.
If the case is retried in January as expected, it will be directed by special prosecutor Hank Brennan. Hank Brennan, a former lawyer for mobster James “Whitey” Bulger, has already begun trying to obtain unreleased records from reporters in Massachusetts. I interviewed Reid.
David Gelman, a criminal defense attorney who is tracking the case, said plans could change again due to the many risks that a new trial would pose.
“We've already had all the police testify,” Gelman said. “They're going to be in a very undesirable position going forward. They're going to have to testify again, and if they say something different they're going to be perjury. I don't want to be in that position. I don’t want to be.”
Officer John O'Keefe was found dead outside his Massachusetts home in January 2022. (Boston Police Department)
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Reed has said in a series of recent interviews that he was framed by the real perpetrators, whom he believes are other members of law enforcement who got into an altercation after O'Keefe dropped her off at the home of fellow Boston police officer Brian. It is claimed that Albert.
O'Keefe's family files wrongful death lawsuit against Karen Reed for 'reckless conduct'
But prosecutors charged her with hitting her boyfriend with an SUV during a drunken fight and leaving him to die in a snowstorm.
A lawyer holds up a photo of Karen Reid and John O'Keefe in court on June 10, 2022. (John Turmacchi/Boston Globe via Getty Images)
His body was found in Albert's front yard.
Reed said she woke up at 6 a.m. after a night of drinking and realized O'Keefe wasn't home, so she went outside to look for him.
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Autopsy photos also showed what appeared to be an animal wound on O'Keefe's right arm, which the defense argued was a suspicious part of what prosecutors say was a vehicular homicide.
Karen Reed's defense attorney holds up a poster board with information exonerating his client of John O'Keefe's murder. (John Turmacchi/Boston Globe via Getty Images)
WATCH: Dashcam from the night John O'Keeffe was found dead
Potentially more critical to the case was the testimony of Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor.
Jurors could be seen shaking their heads in the courtroom as Mr. Reed's lawyers read portions of his text messages.
In it, he called Reed a “boring job” and a “baby with no a– or c—-.”
Karen Reid has arrived at Norfolk High Court for a hearing to have the murder charges against her dismissed. (John Turmacchi/Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Massachusetts police officer killer Karen Reed compares supporters to Vietnam War protesters after mistrial
He wrote that he wished she had committed suicide and joked that he was searching her phone for nude selfies.
Gellman said his cross-examination has already resulted in one juror being indicted. The same thing could happen the second time around, and if Proctor changes his story even slightly, there's a good chance the defense will pounce.
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“It is simply unthinkable that a police officer who has already ruined this trial would be allowed to testify,” he argued. “They're biased because obviously it's one of them who died. I can understand that potentially they could have some kind of bias about this. .”
Hundreds of Karen Reed supporters gather in front of Norfolk County Superior Court before her court appearance. (Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
But he says that's no excuse for failing ethically questionable investigations.
“They're paid to do this job, so they have to do it the right way,” he says. “But they did this in a very unprofessional manner.”
Gelman predicted the most likely outcome would be for Reed to agree to a plea deal. If not, the case will be dismissed. And if it is rejected with prejudice, that is the end.
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Brennan seems ready to do what's thrown at him.
After being appointed special counsel, he told The Associated Press: “I accept full responsibility and every obligation to prosecute this case, uncompromisingly, meticulously, ethically, and… “And we will vigorously prosecute.”
“I have two core duties. The first is to ensure that Karen Reid receives a fair trial. The second is to ensure that the facts surrounding John O'Keeffe's death are disclosed to outside parties. to ensure complete and fair coverage in court without any influence.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
