Testimony will resume Tuesday in Karen Read’s murder retrial.
Karen Read, a 45-year-old former adjunct professor at Bentley University, is facing charges of second-degree murder and other offenses related to the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe. The trial is taking place at the Norfolk Superior Court in Massachusetts.
According to prosecutors, it is alleged that she deliberately hit O’Keefe with her SUV during a snowstorm on January 29, 2022, while he was present at the Canton residence of another police officer, Brian Albert.
Her first trial ended in a hung jury.
The defense, on the other hand, is presenting a case alleging a cover-up involving multiple law enforcement agencies. They argue that O’Keefe was actually assaulted inside the house, attacked by a dog living on the premises, and subsequently left outdoors in harsh weather conditions.
Forensic pathologist and former medical examiner Elizabeth Laposata resumed her testimony Monday and discussed her assessment of the causes behind O’Keefe’s head, brain, and facial injuries.
Judge Beverly Cannone initially determined that Laposata was not qualified to testify about whether the marks on O’Keefe’s arm were consistent with dog bites, but permitted her to discuss her conclusions about the sources of his injuries.
On Tuesday, Cannone allowed Laposata to state that the injuries matched animal bites she had encountered in her career.
USA Today reports that on Monday, Alan Jackson, one of Read’s defense attorneys, stated that they will bring biomechanist Andrew Rentschler to testify Tuesday as the eleventh and final defense witness. Jackson informed Cannone that questioning Rentschler is expected to last around three hours.
The prosecution also plans to present several witnesses to challenge the defense’s claims.
The trial continues. Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: Karen Read/LinkedIn and John O’Keefe/Boston Police Department]
