Professional: Karen Learn’s media appearances could also be good authorized technique

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Have been Karen Learn's unorthodox media interviews a next-level strategic transfer from her protection?

Perhaps, in response to one Massachusetts authorized knowledgeable following the case.

Learn, 45, is accused of killing boyfriend John O'Keefe, 46, in a drunken hit-and-run Jan. 29, 2022, outdoors a celebration in Canton, Massachusetts .

After her first trial, which ended with a deadlocked jury final 12 months, she sat down with a number of reporters to inform her aspect of the story, a transfer many authorized consultants have known as ill-advised. However it might have a payoff as a result of jurors seem targeted on a lesser cost that she could have admitted to on video.

KAREN READ JURY QUESTIONS SUGGEST SAME LEGAL DILEMMA AS LAST YEAR'S MISTRIAL

<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/06/672/378/karen-read-boston-ma-retrial-john-okeefe-day-36-015.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/06/1344/756/karen-read-boston-ma-retrial-john-okeefe-day-36-015.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/06/931/523/karen-read-boston-ma-retrial-john-okeefe-day-36-015.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/06/1862/1046/karen-read-boston-ma-retrial-john-okeefe-day-36-015.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> Karen Learn indicators to supporters whereas exiting Norfolk Superior Court docket for lunch Tuesday, June 17, 2025, in Dedham, Mass. (Richard Beetham for Fox Information Digital)

"She was 'testifying' when she made these statements, realizing they could possibly be utilized in court docket," mentioned Grace Edwards, a prison protection trial legal professional. "Loopy because it appears, this will likely have been a method to provide the jury one thing to hold their hat on and discover her responsible of the OUI and get this performed."

She was referring to the cost of working underneath the affect, a subject jurors requested a number of questions on Tuesday throughout the third day of deliberations after greater than 30 days of trial testimony.

KAREN READ'S VERDICT COULD COME FAST – OR NOT: HERE'S WHAT OTHER CASES SHOW

WATCH: Prosecution in Karen Learn trial makes use of Learn's personal phrases to dismantle protection's idea

"That is an attention-grabbing idea – fall on the sword for the OUI to spare her the extra critical offenses," mentioned Randolph Rice, the Maryland authorized analyst and legal professional who represents the household of slain mom of 5 Rachel Morin. "That may be a dangerous play for the protection."

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Nonetheless, he mentioned, the widespread pondering is that defendants ought to keep away from chatting with the media.

"I am positive the Karen Learn camp is feeling good proper now," he added. "Cautious optimism."

The highest cost in opposition to Learn, second-degree homicide, may land her a life jail sentence if she's convicted. Lesser fees embrace drunken driving, manslaughter and leaving a lethal accident.

WATCH: Karen Learn recounts night time of ingesting at native bar in 2024 tv interview

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The manslaughter cost additionally consists of further lesser fees that jurors may discover her responsible of, together with working a motorcar underneath the affect of liquor, which carries a a lot lighter sentence and would not embrace the murder cost.

Learn didn't take the stand in her personal protection however spoke to reporters outdoors court docket nearly each day. After her mistrial final 12 months, she sat for quite a few information and documentary interviews and even invited {a magazine} author to remain at her home for a weekend.

Homicide defendant Karen Learn speaks with reporters after leaving the courthouse in Dedham, Mass., June 6, 2025. (Richard Beetham for Fox Information Digital)

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Particular prosecutor Hank Brennan subpoenaed the unedited supply materials from reporters and performed a handful of clips in court docket in entrance of the jury.

In a single, which gave the impression to be associated to what jurors had questions on, Learn mentioned spiking her personal drinks within the hours earlier than O'Keefe's dying as a result of she did not assume the bartender was making them robust sufficient.

"The drinks that they have been pouring me at McCarthy's, which was the place I consumed a lot of the alcohol, was the weakest vodka tonic," she mentioned. "It tasted similar to all soda water with lime, not that I want it to be a martini, but it surely may need a splash of vodka in it."

Officer John O’Keefe (Boston Police Division)

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Jurors requested the decide 4 questions Tuesday, lots of them targeted on the OUI cost.

"What's the timeframe for the OUI cost? 12:45 or 5 a.m.?" "Are video clips of Karen's interviews proof?" "Does convicting responsible on a subcharge, for instance offense 2 No. 5, convict the general cost?" "If we discover not responsible on two fees however cannot agree on one cost, is it a hung jury on all three fees or only one cost?" Jurors failed to succeed in a verdict by the top of the day Tuesday. Deliberations resume Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. ET.

"I nonetheless assume it is good for her proper now," Rice advised Fox Information Digital. "Studying between the traces, I believe they can not discover the intent wanted for 2 counts and are attempting to determine the reckless element."

Learn faces as much as life in jail if convicted on essentially the most critical cost of second-degree murder . A few of the OUI-related fees additionally carry multi-year penalties, Edwards mentioned.