Defense Expert Debunks Prosecution's Theory in Karen Read Murder Trial as Case Nears Conclusion
Crash reconstructionist testifies anew in Karen Read's retrial as judge considers expert insights into John O'Keefe's fatal injuries.
The murder trial of Karen Read entered a pivotal phase on its 29th day as a crash reconstructionist returned to the witness stand, with the defense preparing to bring its case to a close later this week. Read stands accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, allegedly striking him with her 2021 Lexus LX 570 SUV in the early hours of January 29, 2022, and leaving him outside to succumb to the brutal conditions of a historic blizzard.
The court session opened with Judge Beverly Cannone addressing critical motions regarding the admissibility of expert testimony, particularly focusing on rebuttal witnesses and the scope of their statements. Judge Cannone announced plans for an additional evidentiary hearing to determine precisely what Dr. Elizabeth Laposata, a prominent Rhode Island forensic pathologist and Brown University professor, will be allowed to share with the jury. Dr. Laposata is poised to analyze O'Keefe's injuries and offer insight into how and where they may have been sustained.
The drama continues to unfold around the events at 34 Fairview Road in Canton, Massachusetts, approximately 20 miles south of Boston, where Read, O'Keefe, and others had gathered for an after-party preceding O'Keefe’s death. Defense attorney David Yannetti reiterated the team's contention that O'Keefe was “placed” on the ground near a flagpole outside the home, challenging the prosecution's narrative of vehicular homicide.
Dr. Daniel Wolfe, a crash reconstruction expert from ARCCA, returned to testify about his analysis of Read’s SUV. Last week, Wolfe stated that the vehicle’s damage did not match the kind of impact prosecutors claim led to O'Keefe's fatal injuries. However, under cross-examination, Wolfe acknowledged that fragments from a broken taillight could have caused lacerations to O'Keefe’s face and nose prior to a skull fracture, which prosecution experts attributed to a backward fall.
Karen Read has pleaded not guilty to charges including second-degree murder, manslaughter while driving under the influence, and leaving the scene of an accident. Her defense team adamantly asserts that she never struck O'Keefe with her vehicle, suggesting instead that unknown events led to his brutal injuries after she had left the gathering.
If convicted on the most serious charge, Read faces a potential sentence of life in prison. The stakes remain high as jurors weigh conflicting expert opinions and revisit evidence from last year’s proceedings, which ended in a hung jury unable to reach a unanimous verdict.
