Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor was relieved from duty after a mistrial in the Karen Read murder trial, where she was accused of killing her boyfriend, a Boston police officer. Proctor came under scrutiny for sending unprofessional text messages about Read, which were read aloud in court. The jury was deadlocked for days and couldn’t reach a unanimous decision about Read’s guilt or innocence after nearly 26 hours of deliberations.
During the trial, Proctor admitted that his texts were inappropriate, and many law experts believe his testimony hurt the prosecution’s case. Despite the mistrial, the prosecution has vowed to re-try the case. Read’s lawyer, Alan Jackson, promised to continue fighting the charges.
Read was accused of intentionally striking her boyfriend with her SUV during a boozy argument and leaving him to die outside a Boston police officer’s home during a nor’easter. She claims she was framed in a cover-up to protect the officer’s family, who have strong law enforcement ties.
Supporters of Read gathered outside the courthouse following the mistrial. The Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office quickly announced their intention to retry the case. Read faces charges of second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter, and leaving the scene of a collision causing injury and death.
The trial included testimony from numerous witnesses and presented 700 pieces of evidence. The outcome of the retrial will be closely watched as it could have implications for other high-profile murder cases in Massachusetts.
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