Day 20 of Karen Read’s murder retrial is taking place, with significant testimonies expected from a brain surgeon and a state police chemist. Before proceedings began, Judge Beverly Cannone ordered a brief recess to address an unspecified issue with the jury, emphasizing the importance of not discussing the case outside the courtroom.
Karen Read, aged 45 from Mansfield, faces accusations of hitting her boyfriend, John O’Keefe—an officer with the Boston Police—while driving her Lexus SUV and failing to assist him in the freezing conditions of a blizzard after a night of drinking at a house party in Canton.
Dr. Aizak Wolf, a brain surgeon, provided critical testimony about O’Keefe’s injuries, describing them as “classic” blunt trauma sustained from hitting the back of his head against a hard surface. He illustrated the nature of the injury, noting that it could only have occurred from a fall backwards.
Following Dr. Wolf’s testimony, Christina Hanley, a chemist from the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab, returned to the witness stand. She previously detailed her analysis of glass fragments found at the scene where O’Keefe’s body was discovered.
Earlier in the trial, digital forensics analyst Shannon Burgess addressed data extracted from Read’s vehicle, noting that the information did not clearly indicate whether a collision had occurred on the day of O’Keefe’s death.
Read’s defense contends that she is a victim of a police conspiracy and alleges that O’Keefe may have been harmed by another individual at the party. Meanwhile, prosecutors maintain that Read intentionally struck O’Keefe.
The case has been fraught with tension, leading to a mistrial last year due to jury deadlock. Read has entered a plea of not guilty to multiple charges, including second-degree murder and manslaughter.
As this complex case unfolds, further testimony and analysis will undoubtedly shape the narrative surrounding the events of that fateful night. Updates will be provided as the trial progresses.