Karen Read retrial set for closing arguments on Friday
After nearly eight weeks of testimony, closing arguments are scheduled for Friday in the retrial of Karen Read, who is accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, in January 2022.
The case, which has captivated suburban Massachusetts, nears its conclusion as jurors prepare to hear from both prosecutors and defence attorneys.
Read, 45, is facing charges of second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and leaving the scene of a fatal collision.
Prosecutors argue she hit O'Keefe with her SUV while reversing and left him to die outside a home in Canton, Massachusetts.
Read, however, maintains her innocence, alleging a cover-up and claiming that off-duty law enforcement inside the house were involved in O’Keefe’s death. She insists that she is being framed.
This is outrageous. Beverly Cannone has clearly violated Karen Read’s Constitutional Right to a fair trial. She wants to conduct the selection for juror alternates in SECRET. Just like trial 1. She is not just corrupt, she is treasonous. pic.twitter.com/ZttxcxbXKJ
The trial is the second attempt to secure a verdict in the case after a previous mistrial in July 2024, when the jury could not reach a unanimous decision.
Friday's closing arguments mark a critical point in the case, with both sides allotted 75 minutes to present their final statements.
Prosecutors aim to connect the evidence into a compelling narrative, while the defence seeks to introduce enough reasonable doubt to challenge the prosecution's version of events.
The case revolves around events from the night of January 28, 2022. Read and O’Keefe were drinking at two bars in Canton before heading to a home on Fairview Road.
While Read claims she dropped O'Keefe off, witnesses testified that he never entered the house.
Prosecutors assert that O'Keefe was struck by Read’s SUV, reversing at around 24 mph, resulting in blunt force trauma to his head.
Judge C denied this motion for transparency in the jury selection process, probably because it throws shade at Clerk Jim's secrecy during the first trial. I still think she'll make the process much more transparent. I don't think Karen Read will be permitted to select the… pic.twitter.com/UrFunfeuzI
When Read returned to the scene the next morning, O’Keefe’s body was found near a flagpole. Special prosecutor Hank Brennan highlighted statements Read allegedly made to a paramedic, saying, “I hit him, I hit him, I hit him.”
Defence attorneys counter that no collision took place.
They argue that O’Keefe's injuries were caused by other factors, including a dog, and point to inconsistencies in the damage to Read’s SUV.
They also raised concerns about the investigation, including inappropriate text messages sent by the lead investigator, Michael Proctor, which contributed to his dismissal from the Massachusetts State Police.
Day 33 of Karen Read Retrial — Closing Arguments/Potential Jury Deliberations
As the trial nears its end, both sides will seek to sway the jury with their interpretation of the facts, hoping to secure a favourable verdict after years of public scrutiny and legal proceedings.
The outcome of the retrial will determine whether Karen Read will be held accountable for the death of John O’Keefe.