As Karen Read’s second trial continues, jurors visited the crime scene where she is accused of killing her police officer boyfriend.
CBS News reported that on Friday, the jury was taken by bus to 34 Fairview Road in Canton, Massachusetts. Before the visit, both prosecutors and defense attorneys spoke to the jurors.
Judge Beverly Cannone addressed the jurors before their departure, stating, “We’re going to a place that you’ve heard about and that you will continue to hear about over the course of the trial.”
Special prosecutor Hank Brennan urged jurors to focus on the street, curb, front yard, and the SUV Read was driving.
During the visit, Brennan instructed the jurors, saying, “I’d ask you to note the height of the bumper on the Lexus. I’d also ask you to observe the height from the right rear taillight and a protruding part on the hatchback.”
Defense attorney David Yannetti directed jurors’ attention to the distances between the second-floor front window, the front lawn, and the front doors.
“On behalf of Ms. Read, we have every confidence that you will do a proper investigation,” Yannetti said.
Prosecutors allege Read struck John O’Keefe, a 16-year Boston police veteran, with her vehicle and left him to die in a snowstorm on January 29, 2022.
Read first stood trial in 2024 on charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of a crash causing death. The trial ended in a mistrial on July 1, 2024, after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict.
The defense claims O’Keefe was killed inside the home and dragged outside.
Read maintains her innocence and has pleaded not guilty.
After returning from the site visit, jurors heard from Dr. Faller, former chief of pathology at Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton, and Jason Becker, a paramedic with the Canton Fire Department.
Faller testified that Read’s blood alcohol level was 0.093%, above Massachusetts’s legal limit of 0.08%. The test was conducted several hours after O’Keefe’s death.
Becker testified that he transported Read for suicidal concerns and recalled her referring to O’Keefe as her husband, saying their last conversation was an argument.
Testimony will resume Monday for half the day, followed by a voir dire hearing.
[Feature Photo: Karen Read/LinkedIn and John O’Keefe/police handout]
