Retrial for Karen Read Delayed as Court Reviews Evidence and Expert Testimony
Dec 11, 11:00 AM
The retrial of Karen Read, accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, has been delayed following a joint motion from both the defense and prosecution. The delay, granted by Judge Beverly Cannone, allows additional time for both sides to prepare as they navigate disputes over key evidence and expert testimony.
Read, 44, is charged with second-degree murder and related offenses in connection with the January 2022 death of O’Keefe. His body was discovered in the snow outside a Canton home after a night of drinking. Prosecutors allege that Read struck O’Keefe with her SUV and left him to die, while her defense argues she is the victim of a cover-up involving law enforcement and others.
The retrial was initially scheduled to begin in January 2025. Both parties, however, requested the delay, proposing an April 1, 2025, start date. In their motion, attorneys cited the need for "adequate time" to prepare due to new evidence and expert analysis that will be presented. Judge Cannone approved the motion and indicated that final scheduling details would be discussed at a Dec. 12 hearing.
This hearing will also address the defense's attempt to introduce testimony from Dr. Marie Russell, a veterinarian who testified in the first trial. Dr. Russell has argued that O’Keefe’s injuries could be attributed to dog bites rather than being struck by a vehicle. Prosecutors are challenging her qualifications as an expert witness, with a Daubert hearing set to assess whether her testimony meets the legal standards for relevance and reliability.
Read’s defense continues to assert her innocence, alleging she has been framed in a conspiracy involving law enforcement and others. Her attorney, David Yannetti, has pointed to perceived irregularities in the investigation, including inconsistencies in how damage to Read’s SUV was documented.
“There is overwhelming evidence that Karen Read is the victim of a miscarriage of justice,” Yannetti said. “We are confident the retrial will expose the truth.”
The first trial, which ended in a mistrial in July 2024, saw jurors deadlocked on a manslaughter charge but reportedly leaning toward acquittal on more serious counts. Read's legal team has since appealed to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to dismiss some of the charges, arguing that the jury's findings in the first trial support her claims of innocence.
Prosecutors maintain that Read acted with reckless disregard for O’Keefe’s safety. They contend that she struck him with her SUV and failed to seek help, leaving him to succumb to the elements. Efforts to strengthen their case in the retrial have included requests for additional forensic testing of Read’s SUV and obtaining recordings from interviews involving Read and her family.
Judge Cannone recently denied a prosecution request to access phone records from Read’s parents but approved their request to analyze unedited interview recordings.
Complicating matters further is a civil lawsuit filed by O’Keefe’s family against Read and the establishments where the couple had been drinking before his death. A judge has paused depositions and discovery in the civil case until the conclusion of the criminal retrial.
As both sides prepare for the upcoming trial, the Dec. 12 hearing will play a crucial role in determining the scope of evidence and testimony that can be presented. The retrial remains a focal point for those closely watching the legal battle, which has raised questions about the intersection of law enforcement, justice, and personal relationships.
#KarenRead #JohnOKeefe #Retrial #JusticeSystem #LegalNews #MassachusettsCrime #CourtUpdates
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Read, 44, is charged with second-degree murder and related offenses in connection with the January 2022 death of O’Keefe. His body was discovered in the snow outside a Canton home after a night of drinking. Prosecutors allege that Read struck O’Keefe with her SUV and left him to die, while her defense argues she is the victim of a cover-up involving law enforcement and others.
The retrial was initially scheduled to begin in January 2025. Both parties, however, requested the delay, proposing an April 1, 2025, start date. In their motion, attorneys cited the need for "adequate time" to prepare due to new evidence and expert analysis that will be presented. Judge Cannone approved the motion and indicated that final scheduling details would be discussed at a Dec. 12 hearing.
This hearing will also address the defense's attempt to introduce testimony from Dr. Marie Russell, a veterinarian who testified in the first trial. Dr. Russell has argued that O’Keefe’s injuries could be attributed to dog bites rather than being struck by a vehicle. Prosecutors are challenging her qualifications as an expert witness, with a Daubert hearing set to assess whether her testimony meets the legal standards for relevance and reliability.
Read’s defense continues to assert her innocence, alleging she has been framed in a conspiracy involving law enforcement and others. Her attorney, David Yannetti, has pointed to perceived irregularities in the investigation, including inconsistencies in how damage to Read’s SUV was documented.
“There is overwhelming evidence that Karen Read is the victim of a miscarriage of justice,” Yannetti said. “We are confident the retrial will expose the truth.”
The first trial, which ended in a mistrial in July 2024, saw jurors deadlocked on a manslaughter charge but reportedly leaning toward acquittal on more serious counts. Read's legal team has since appealed to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to dismiss some of the charges, arguing that the jury's findings in the first trial support her claims of innocence.
Prosecutors maintain that Read acted with reckless disregard for O’Keefe’s safety. They contend that she struck him with her SUV and failed to seek help, leaving him to succumb to the elements. Efforts to strengthen their case in the retrial have included requests for additional forensic testing of Read’s SUV and obtaining recordings from interviews involving Read and her family.
Judge Cannone recently denied a prosecution request to access phone records from Read’s parents but approved their request to analyze unedited interview recordings.
Complicating matters further is a civil lawsuit filed by O’Keefe’s family against Read and the establishments where the couple had been drinking before his death. A judge has paused depositions and discovery in the civil case until the conclusion of the criminal retrial.
As both sides prepare for the upcoming trial, the Dec. 12 hearing will play a crucial role in determining the scope of evidence and testimony that can be presented. The retrial remains a focal point for those closely watching the legal battle, which has raised questions about the intersection of law enforcement, justice, and personal relationships.
#KarenRead #JohnOKeefe #Retrial #JusticeSystem #LegalNews #MassachusettsCrime #CourtUpdates
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com