The Criminal Justice System Was Found Guilty in the Karen Read Trial
It was inevitable that there would still be more questions than answers following the verdict this week in the case against Karen Read, the Massachusetts woman acquitted of murder and manslaughter in the death of her police officer boyfriend, John O’Keefe. But a couple of things about this convoluted story are unambiguous.
First: O’Keefe’s death is a tragedy. Second: The yearslong ordeal—which devolved into a lawyerly circus and electrified many people across the country along the way—is a microcosm of what can happen when metastatic misconduct and zealotry infect the monopoly on power.
The story is, to put it mildly, a bit dizzying. But the basic details are as follows: On an early morning in January 2022, O’Keefe was found dead in the snow outside a house where some of his friends had gathered after a night out drinking. Read had dropped him off a few hours prior, and it had been, by many admissions, an evening dripping with booze. In the following days, law enforcement would coalesce around the idea that Read—intoxicated and angry with O’Keefe—intentionally careened into him with her vehicle, drove away, and left him to die in the freezing cold.
Read was ultimately indicted on charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of personal injury and death.
It did not take long, however, for that case to start dissolving. There are many reasons for that.
To begin, law enforcement, by any normal standard, botched the crime scene. Police opted not to search inside the home where Read had dropped O’Keefe. They used red Solo cups to collect blood samples. One officer used a leaf blower to clear away snow. (It doesn’t take a very active imagination to assume how that might compromise the scene.) And police did not find what was arguably the most important piece of evidence in the case—a taillight fragment—during the initial search. An officer instead said he discovered it hours later when he returned to the house, after Read’s vehicle had been impounded.
Perhaps more fraught still is that the case was plagued by accusations that law enforcement
Article from Reason.com
The Reason Magazine website is a go-to destination for libertarians seeking cogent analysis, investigative reporting, and thought-provoking commentary. Championing the principles of individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, the site offers a diverse range of articles, videos, and podcasts that challenge conventional wisdom and advocate for libertarian solutions. Whether you’re interested in politics, culture, or technology, Reason provides a unique lens that prioritizes liberty and rational discourse. It’s an essential resource for those who value critical thinking and nuanced debate in the pursuit of a freer society.
