cover of episode Talking Dateline: The Night of the Nor’easter

Talking Dateline: The Night of the Nor’easter

2024/10/23
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Dateline NBC

Key Insights

Why did the defense strategy in Karen Read's case involve extensive media exposure?

The defense aimed to present their truth openly, showing Karen's innocence and transparency, hoping to sway public opinion and possibly influence the jury.

Why did the Karen Read case gain such widespread attention on social media?

The case resonated with people who saw Karen as a victim of wrongful accusation and potential police corruption, sparking a cause that many felt compelled to support.

Why did Turtle Boy, an activist, become so involved in the Karen Read case?

Turtle Boy focused on exposing alleged corruption, aligning with the defense's claims of a cover-up involving law enforcement, making the case a personal crusade.

Why did the trial move to a smaller courtroom?

The defense argued that in the larger courtroom, half the jurors couldn't see the witness's face clearly, prompting the judge to move the trial to a smaller, available courtroom.

Why did the family of John O'Keefe file a lawsuit against the bars where Karen Read and John O'Keefe had been on the night of his death?

The family alleges that the bars negligently served alcohol to an already intoxicated person, contributing to the events leading to John O'Keefe's death.

Why did Karen Read wait in the car instead of going to the door with John O'Keefe?

Karen felt uncertain about the reception they would receive as she didn't know the people well and wanted John to gauge the situation first.

Why did the text messages from Michael Proctor, a police officer, cause such a stir?

The text messages were highly inappropriate and unprofessional, raising concerns about the culture within the Massachusetts police force and undermining the integrity of the investigation.

Why is the retrial of Karen Read potentially delayed?

The defense's motion to dismiss two charges based on juror feedback is being appealed to the Supreme Judicial Court, which could delay the retrial scheduled for January 2025.

Chapters

Andrea Canning discusses the strategy of Karen Read's defense team, which included extensive interviews and a bold approach to maintaining her innocence.
  • Karen Read's defense team conducted rare pre-trial interviews to present their truth.
  • The strategy was to show all cards and maintain her innocence without holding back.
  • The defense aimed to garner public interest and support, which it successfully did.

Shownotes Transcript

Blayne Alexander and Andrea Canning discuss Andrea’s episode, “The Night of the Nor’easter.”  In 2022, Karen Read was charged with killing her Boston police officer boyfriend, John O’Keefe, by drunkenly backing her car into him in blizzard conditions. She says that never happened, and her defense – that she was being framed as part of a police cover up – gained national attention and sparked demonstrations and protests at the courthouse. Andrea talks about covering Read’s high-profile trial this summer, and what it was like interviewing Read’s defense attorney, Alan Jackson. Later, Andrea shares a podcast-exclusive clip from her conversation with one of John O’Keefe’s family members. And Dateline producer Sue Simpson stops by to answer viewer and listener questions from social media.

Listen to the full episode of "The Night of the Nor'easter" here: https://link.chtbl.com/dl_thenightofthenoreaster)