After six weeks of testimony, Massachusetts prosecutors concluded their retrial of Karen Read, who is charged with murdering her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, in January 2022. Special prosecutor Hank Brennan’s theory remains that Read, intoxicated and angry, intentionally struck O’Keefe with her Lexus SUV and left him for dead. This retrial follows a prior case that ended in a hung jury.
Key changes in this trial include the absence of significant witnesses who previously supported Read’s defense and the exclusion of a disgraced former state trooper involved in the original investigation. Read, maintaining her innocence, has been more vocal this time, with Brennan incorporating footage of her interviews to highlight her statements, which he claims support the prosecution’s argument.
The final prosecution witness, biomechanical engineer Judson Welcher, provided crucial testimony. He analyzed data from Read’s Lexus, indicating the vehicle traveled and reversed in proximity to O’Keefe’s location, although no evidence confirmed a collision. Welcher noted that injuries on O’Keefe’s arm were compatible with a broken tail light on Read’s vehicle.
Two former significant defense witnesses, Brian Albert and Brian Higgins, were also not called by the prosecution this trial, despite their involvement in the first. The defense has suggested alternative theories, implying O’Keefe may have been harmed before being found near Albert’s home.
Throughout the trial, Read has shared her side through interviews, discussing her drinking habits and previous interactions with O’Keefe. As her legal team prepares to present their defense, the focus remains on the credibility of both the prosecution’s and defense’s presented narratives as the jury deliberates the case’s complex circumstances.
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