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| Karen Read acquitted: Why her murder trial caused such a frenzy | Karen Read acquitted: Why her murder trial caused such a frenzy |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Watch: After verdict is announced, Karen Read speaks to crowd | Watch: After verdict is announced, Karen Read speaks to crowd |
| Hundreds of people wearing pink outfits waited with bated breath outside a Massachusetts court on Wednesday to hear the verdict in the Karen Read trial. | Hundreds of people wearing pink outfits waited with bated breath outside a Massachusetts court on Wednesday to hear the verdict in the Karen Read trial. |
| As Ms Read was found not guilty of murdering her Boston police officer boyfriend John O'Keefe in January 2022, they erupted in cheers. | As Ms Read was found not guilty of murdering her Boston police officer boyfriend John O'Keefe in January 2022, they erupted in cheers. |
| A fervent TikTok following and multiple documentaries fuelled the obsession with the true-crime cause celebre. | |
| Some saw the case as the result of a flawed criminal justice system. Other trial-watchers, especially women, said they saw themselves in the accused. | Some saw the case as the result of a flawed criminal justice system. Other trial-watchers, especially women, said they saw themselves in the accused. |
| Outside court, Ms Read's supporters were often conspicuous by their pink attire - her favourite colour. | Outside court, Ms Read's supporters were often conspicuous by their pink attire - her favourite colour. |
| Each time she came in and out of the building, her adoring fans would extend their index, little finger and thumb - American Sign Language for "I love you". Ms Read and her attorneys would do the same. | Each time she came in and out of the building, her adoring fans would extend their index, little finger and thumb - American Sign Language for "I love you". Ms Read and her attorneys would do the same. |
| Karen Read's fans show their support | Karen Read's fans show their support |
| Beyond the call to "Free Karen Read" - a slogan many supporters pressed into T-shirts or daubed on signs - those in the crowd seemed to relate to her. | Beyond the call to "Free Karen Read" - a slogan many supporters pressed into T-shirts or daubed on signs - those in the crowd seemed to relate to her. |
| "It could be me," said Patti Lima, who decided to start coming to court last week. "I would have done everything she did. Exact same thing." | "It could be me," said Patti Lima, who decided to start coming to court last week. "I would have done everything she did. Exact same thing." |
| Robin Burns, another woman in the crowd, said she brought both her daughters for parts of the two trials. | Robin Burns, another woman in the crowd, said she brought both her daughters for parts of the two trials. |
| Ms Burns said: "I really believe there's a lot of corruption here and I believe it runs deep. And I've got three girls, and this could be one of my kids." | Ms Burns said: "I really believe there's a lot of corruption here and I believe it runs deep. And I've got three girls, and this could be one of my kids." |
| The first proceedings against Ms Read collapsed in July 2024 after the jury was unable to reach a verdict. | The first proceedings against Ms Read collapsed in July 2024 after the jury was unable to reach a verdict. |
| The prosecution said Ms Read ran over Mr O'Keefe and left him to die in a snowbank outside his colleague's house following a night of drinking. Ms Read argued she was framed by the police for murder. | The prosecution said Ms Read ran over Mr O'Keefe and left him to die in a snowbank outside his colleague's house following a night of drinking. Ms Read argued she was framed by the police for murder. |
| The frenzy stems from Ms Read's circumstances, Shira Diner, a Boston University law lecturer, told the BBC. | The frenzy stems from Ms Read's circumstances, Shira Diner, a Boston University law lecturer, told the BBC. |
| "The public doesn't have a lot of opportunity to see white women of means being charged with serious crimes and be put through the criminal legal process," she said. | "The public doesn't have a lot of opportunity to see white women of means being charged with serious crimes and be put through the criminal legal process," she said. |
| Statistically, as few as 10% of homicide offenders in the US are female, according to FBI data. | Statistically, as few as 10% of homicide offenders in the US are female, according to FBI data. |
| But Prof Diner said there is a more important reason why people are fascinated with the case - because Ms Read has "created a narrative and a story around herself and around her experience that is really impactful and really effective". | But Prof Diner said there is a more important reason why people are fascinated with the case - because Ms Read has "created a narrative and a story around herself and around her experience that is really impactful and really effective". |
| Unlike many who face murder charges in the US, Ms Read - a financial analyst - was able to post $50,000 (£37,000) bail to stay out of custody while her trial proceeded. | Unlike many who face murder charges in the US, Ms Read - a financial analyst - was able to post $50,000 (£37,000) bail to stay out of custody while her trial proceeded. |
| "Most people who are charged with second-degree murder are held on a very high bail, and so while their trial is pending, they can't do 60 Minutes [a CBS show] interviews and they can't talk to their fans," Prof Diner said. | "Most people who are charged with second-degree murder are held on a very high bail, and so while their trial is pending, they can't do 60 Minutes [a CBS show] interviews and they can't talk to their fans," Prof Diner said. |
| "They can't engage with a narrative in the way she has been able to do, because she was able to post her bail." | "They can't engage with a narrative in the way she has been able to do, because she was able to post her bail." |
| Eric Schiffer, a public relations expert, told the BBC that Ms Read's story "blends every dopamine trigger - small-town cops, alleged cover-up, influencer sleuths". | Eric Schiffer, a public relations expert, told the BBC that Ms Read's story "blends every dopamine trigger - small-town cops, alleged cover-up, influencer sleuths". |
| He noted that her father had thanked "content providers" after her not-guilty verdict, underlining the role that social media, as well as documentarians and podcast hosts, have had on how his daughter was perceived in the public eye. | He noted that her father had thanked "content providers" after her not-guilty verdict, underlining the role that social media, as well as documentarians and podcast hosts, have had on how his daughter was perceived in the public eye. |
| "This case proves crisis messaging today isn't about press releases - it's about Reddit flair mods and who controls the subreddit sidebar narrative," said Mr Schiffer, referring to the popular social media forum where a subreddit named JusticeforKarenRead amassed nearly 20,000 members. | "This case proves crisis messaging today isn't about press releases - it's about Reddit flair mods and who controls the subreddit sidebar narrative," said Mr Schiffer, referring to the popular social media forum where a subreddit named JusticeforKarenRead amassed nearly 20,000 members. |
| As the verdict in the second trial was read on Tuesday, screams from the crowd outside could be heard in court. | As the verdict in the second trial was read on Tuesday, screams from the crowd outside could be heard in court. |
| And when Ms Read walked out a free woman, she thanked the cheering throng for their years of support. | And when Ms Read walked out a free woman, she thanked the cheering throng for their years of support. |
| "I just want to say two things," she said. "Number one is I could not be standing here without these amazing supporters who have supported me and my team financially, and more importantly emotionally for almost four years. | "I just want to say two things," she said. "Number one is I could not be standing here without these amazing supporters who have supported me and my team financially, and more importantly emotionally for almost four years. |
| "The second thing I want to say is no-one has fought harder for justice for John O'Keefe than I have, than I have and my team." | "The second thing I want to say is no-one has fought harder for justice for John O'Keefe than I have, than I have and my team." |
| The O'Keefe family left court without comment. | The O'Keefe family left court without comment. |