Hearing Focuses on Expert Testimony in Read Case

In the ongoing Karen Read case, a crucial hearing is taking place to determine whether Dr. Marie Russell, a dog bite expert, will testify in Read's upcoming retrial. Read is accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, by hitting him with her SUV after a night of drinking, but her defense claims his injuries were caused by a dog, not her vehicle. Prosecutors are challenging Russell's qualifications and the scientific basis of her conclusions, citing evidence like shards of a taillight found in O'Keefe's clothing. The court has delayed the start of the retrial until April 2025, following a previous trial that ended in a hung jury. Read maintains her innocence and claims she is a victim of a cover-up, as her lawyers suggest O'Keefe was actually killed inside a home before his body was placed outside. The prosecution aims to exclude Russell's testimony to strengthen their case against Read.