A WITNESS in Karen Read’s murder trial has been branded “Officer Diva” as she testified that the defense tried to get her to lie for them.
Kelly Dever, previously a police officer in Canton and currently employed by the Boston Police Department, altered her testimony during the trial. She attributed her revised statement to the intense persuasion tactics employed by the defense lawyers.
Dever was working patrol on the night John O’Keefe, Read’s boyfriend, died in January 2022.
The case involves Read, aged 45, who stands accused of fatally striking O’Keefe with her vehicle. Subsequently, she allegedly abandoned him in the snow to succumb to his injuries, following a drop-off at a party hosted at a friend’s residence.
Her lawyers insist Read has been framed in a police conspiracy and that someone inside the house killed O’Keefe.
On Monday, Dever was asked to testify about statements she had previously made about what she saw while working at the police department that night.
Her exchange with Read’s defense attorney Alan Jackson quickly heated up as Dever said she had “no idea why I’m here.”
After a few tense back-and-forths, Jackson mispronounced Dever’s last name and called her “Officer Diva.”
“Just answer my question, Officer Diva – Dever,” Jackson said.
When answering the question, Dever fired back and called him out for the petty nickname.
“Like you can’t remember my name, I don’t remember,” she said.
