Karen Read Retrial Defense Calls First Witness in Murder Case

The prosecution in the Karen Read retrial has rested its case after nearly six weeks of testimony, during which expert witnesses testified that damage to Read’s SUV and John O’Keefe’s injuries were consistent with her vehicle striking him. Read, accused of hitting and leaving her Boston police officer boyfriend to die in the snow after a night of drinking in January 2022, maintains her innocence and claims she is a victim of a police conspiracy, with her defense arguing that O’Keefe was beaten and dumped outside by others. The defense is set to begin its case, starting with accident reconstruction expert Matt DiSogra, and plans to present a more robust case over the next one and a half to two weeks, potentially calling key figures involved in the investigation. The retrial follows a previous mistrial due to a hung jury, and Read has not yet decided if she will testify. The proceedings are ahead of schedule, and the judge expects full days of testimony as the defense seeks to challenge the prosecution's narrative and introduce alternative theories of the crime.