One of many 12 jurors who cleared Karen Learn of homicide prices within the loss of life of Boston cop boyfriend John O’Keefe defined the panel’s reasoning Thursday, a day after her second trial got here to a detailed.
The juror additionally defined temporary confusion Wednesday afternoon that arose out of a verdict that jurors later retracted earlier than it was learn in courtroom.
Decide Beverly Cannone sealed that one. Inside minutes, jurors handed down a verdict for actual.
“Every little thing on that preliminary slip was the identical because the slip that was introduced,” Juror No. 4, recognized solely as “Jason,” informed TMZ Stay. He mentioned they pulled the primary slip again over the OUI cost – working underneath the affect of liquor, of which jurors discovered her responsible.
Karen Learn Homicide Case Verdict Reached After Deadlocked First Trial
WATCH: Juror No. 4’s interview
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“In our deliberations, we had determined there was sufficient proof and proof that she was driving underneath the affect,” he mentioned.
Jurors discovered Learn not responsible of homicide, manslaughter and fleeing a lethal accident in a trial that stretched on for greater than 30 days of testimony and 4 days of deliberations. The lesser included cost of OUI is the Massachusetts time period for drunken driving.
“I do not know what occurred to John,” Jason mentioned. “I used to be solely introduced a restricted scope of what occurred on the evening, and I can solely base my opinion off of the proof that was proven within the courtroom. So, I do not actually know if there was a cover-up or not.
Karen Learn exits Norfolk County Superior Courtroom in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday, June 18, 2025. Learn was discovered not responsible within the homicide of her boyfriend, John O’Keefe.
“I do know that is the large conspiracy round it, however I do not actually know. All I do know is there was plenty of holes within the investigation. Whether or not they had been deliberate holes or not deliberate holes, it is kinda exhausting for me sitting again to know that — you recognize, what truly occurred.”
He mentioned the protection declare that O’Keefe may have been killed by somebody in the home — in an assault that concerned a canine — was an “instance of cheap doubt.”
“We had been tasked with discovering … with deciding this individual’s destiny based mostly on the proof within the proof that the commonwealth was capable of current, and there was plenty of holes,” he mentioned.
He mentioned one other essential issue for the jury was video that confirmed Learn’s taillight.
“We may see from the automobile, after the alleged incident occurred, once we may see the taillight it was lit up pink, the place it should not simply have been pink,” he mentioned. “I do not imagine that the SUV collided with John O’Keefe.”
Nonetheless, he added, there was no method for jurors to know whether or not claims of a “corrupt” police investigation had been true.
“I do not know that there was any corruption occurring,” he mentioned. “However do I do know that there wasn’t sufficient proof or proof secured by the police to convict Karen Learn? Completely.”
Additionally Thursday, Massachusetts State Police brass broke their silence on the years-long case marred by investigative missteps and the firing of a state trooper who performed a central position within the case.
Learn was accused — and acquitted — of killing her boyfriend by slamming an SUV into him and leaving him to die on the bottom throughout a blizzard after a drunken argument. Jurors discovered her responsible solely of drunken driving, for which she acquired a sentence of 1 yr probation and outpatient remedy.
Col. Geoffrey Noble, the state police commissioner, mentioned your complete division sends its condolences to O’Keefe’s household.
“The occasions of the final three years have challenged our division to totally evaluate our actions and take concrete steps to ship superior investigative coaching, guarantee acceptable oversight and improve accountability,” Noble mentioned in an announcement. “Below my course as colonel, the state police has, and can proceed to, enhance in these regards.”
He mentioned the aim is to ship “glorious” service and keep public belief.
Karen Learn and John O’Keefe pose for an undated {photograph}.
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Jurors didn’t seem to belief the investigation after 4 days of deliberation, after they rejected the prosecution’s case nearly fully.
Massachusetts Trooper Michael Proctor ‘Terminated’ From State Police
The lead investigator on the case, former State Trooper Michael Proctor, misplaced his job in March after an inner investigation concluded he shared confidential and delicate regulation enforcement info with civilians in a gaggle textual content, the contents of which had been additionally lewd in nature and mocked Learn’s well being points.
Supporters of Karen Learn gesture as she departs Norfolk Superior Courtroom throughout jury deliberations Tuesday, June 17, 2025, in Dedham, Mass.
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It was Noble who introduced the firing, days earlier than Learn’s second trial started. Her first trial ended with a deadlocked jury final yr after the texts had been learn in courtroom and Learn’s protection uncovered different obvious flaws within the investigation.
“It’s incumbent upon me, in addition to each member of this division, to carry each other accountable when any member compromises our mission by failing to uphold our values,” he mentioned on the time.
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Noble and the division had been additionally sued by true crime reporters and a few of Learn’s supporters over the enforcement of a “buffer zone” across the Dedham courthouse that their attorneys referred to as unconstitutional.
Individually, native police in Canton, Massachusetts, had been subjected to an exterior audit that advisable elevated coaching and oversight whereas dispelling claims of a conspiracy to border Learn for O’Keefe’s loss of life.
A federal investigation into the case ended with out prices in opposition to members of both regulation enforcement company.
Unique article supply: Juror reveals why Karen Learn walked free in boyfriend’s loss of life