In this comprehensive episode, we break down the crucial jury instructions and analyze the dramatically different closing arguments presented in the Karen Read murder retrial. After 31 days of testimony from 50 witnesses, Judge Beverly Cannone spent over an hour instructing the jury on how to apply the law to the facts of this case that has captivated Massachusetts and beyond.

We examine the specific jury instructions given for each charge Karen Read faces: second-degree murder, manslaughter, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. The episode details how Judge Cannone explained the concept of reasonable doubt, the Commonwealth's burden of proof, and what elements must be proven for each charge. We discuss how the judge instructed jurors to consider evidence of intoxication, intent, and whether Read's actions directly caused John O'Keefe's death on that snowy January night in 2022.

The episode then provides a detailed comparison of the closing arguments. Defense attorney Alan Jackson's hour and twenty-six minute presentation began with him declaring three times "there was no collision" and painting a picture of police corruption and cover-up. In contrast, prosecutor Hank Brennan's closing repeatedly emphasized that Read was "drunk, she hit him, then she left him to die," focusing on physical evidence and Read's own statements at the scene.

We analyze the strategic decisions made by both sides, including Jackson's heavy focus on discredited investigator Michael Proctor versus Brennan's emphasis on cell phone data showing O'Keefe never entered the Albert home. The discussion covers how each attorney addressed the controversial evidence, from taillight pieces to dog bite theories, and how they framed Read's "I hit him" statements - as either confused questions or guilty admissions.

#KarenRead #JuryInstructions #ClosingArguments #JohnOKeefe #MurderTrial #CourtTV #JudgeCannone #AlanJackson #HankBrennan #JuryDeliberations #SecondDegreeMurder #Manslaughter #ReasonableDoubt #TrialAnalysis #LegalBreakdown #BostonPolice #CantonMA #BigBreakdown #VerdictWatch

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