Karen Read, the Massachusetts woman accused of killing her police officer boyfriend with a vehicle in January 2022, appeared in court on Friday for a hearing regarding her defense team's motion to dismiss. Read's attorneys, Alan Jackson and David Yannetti, argued that two out of three charges, including second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a fatal accident, should be dropped following a mistrial in June.

During the hearing, held at Norfolk County Superior Court in Dedham, Massachusetts, Judge Beverly J. Cannone listened to arguments from both the defense and prosecution but withheld her decision, stating that she would take them under advisement. Read's lawyers asserted that jurors during the mistrial had agreed that she was not guilty on two of the charges. They argued that subjecting Read to another trial would amount to "double jeopardy."

Prosecutors, however, plan to retry Read in January, setting the stage for a potential legal battle in the coming months. The case has stirred strong emotions among local residents, with conflicting opinions on Read's guilt or innocence.

In the original trial that took place in June, Jackson and Yannetti presented a defense strategy claiming that allegations against Read were part of an elaborate cover-up and frame job. The Norfolk County jury deliberated for 26 hours but ultimately reached a deadlock, leading to the declaration of a mistrial by Judge Cannone on July 1.

According to prosecutors, the incident occurred on January 28, 2022, after a night of drinking when a heated argument between Read, a financial analyst, and her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, turned tragic. It was alleged that Read backed her SUV into O'Keefe, leaving him fatally injured, and then left the scene during a nor'easter.

O'Keefe's body was discovered on the front lawn of a prominent family with deep connections to law enforcement and prosecutors on the morning of January 29, 2022. Read's defense countered by claiming that the family who owned the home had framed her for O'Keefe's death in an elaborate cover-up.

As she arrived at court on Friday, Read was met with contrasting groups of supporters and detractors. Some cheered her on and held signs proclaiming her innocence, while others chanted accusations of being a "cop killer."

The highly publicized case has sparked intense debate in the Boston area, highlighting the deep divisions among the locals. O'Keefe's brother, Paul O'Keefe, expressed frustration, stating that the case had turned into the "Karen Read show," where she receives support and attention from some members of the public.

The mistrial, with the jury "deeply divided" due to clashing opinions and convictions, was documented in notes from Judge Cannone in July. The jury's final note to the judge revealed their inability to reach a consensus, citing "fundamental differences in our opinions and state of mind."

As the legal proceedings continue, Karen Read faces the possibility of another trial in January, depending on the judge's decision regarding the defense team's motion to dismiss.