Judge Denies Mistrial Request in Karen Read Boston Murder Retrial

In the ongoing 2025 murder retrial of Karen Read, accused of killing her Boston police officer boyfriend John O'Keefe, a key defense witness testified about the condition of Read's SUV taillight, revealing discrepancies with prosecution evidence. The defense's theory hinges on forensic pathologist Dr. Marie Russell's testimony that O'Keefe's injuries were consistent with dog bites from a German Shepherd named Chloe, found at the crime scene, rather than being caused by a vehicle. Prosecutors challenged this by introducing O'Keefe's sweater into evidence, noting no dog DNA was found, which led to a dispute over the handling of DNA evidence during the trial. Despite the defense's motion for a mistrial on these grounds, Judge Beverly Cannone denied the request, allowing the prosecution to continue questioning regarding the absence of dog DNA. The defense alleges a police coverup involving officers at the scene and the lead investigator, Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor, while prosecutors maintain Read struck O'Keefe with her SUV and left him to die in a snowbank during a blizzard. Read has denied the charges, which include second-degree murder and manslaughter, and her first trial ended in a mistrial due to a hung jury.