Karen’s defense team questions crash expert about high costs and testing methods

Karen Read’s defense team attempted to dismantle the credibility of a crash expert by highlighting extravagant spending and alleged inconsistencies in experiments as the trial approaches its climax.

Read is facing charges for the death of her former boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe. The allegation is that she fatally hit him with her Lexus SUV outside a residence and deserted him to perish in freezing temperatures just after midnight on Jan. 29, 2022. 

The last witness expected to testify for the prosecution, Dr. Judson Welcher, a crash reconstruction specialist from Aperture LLC in Texas, stood by his analysis that Read’s car collided with O’Keefe.

“Would you agree that you did a blue paint test with the vehicle going at two miles per hour?” Alessi asked. 

“Of course,” Welcher said. 

“You didn’t do a blue paint test with the vehicle going at 20 miles per hour, correct?” Alessi said. 

“That is correct,” Welcher said. “I was not going to hit myself with the Lexus at 20 miles an hour.” 

Wednesday marked the second day of testimony from Welcher, as the state is expected to rest its case this week. 

Read pleaded not guilty and is facing the possibility of life in prison if convicted of the top charge, second-degree murder. 

“The model being followed here is very good and professional,” Lu said. “What you have here is a very nice judge meets a very nice lawyer,” adding, “This results in a looser, less-focused cross-examination. It’s working out fine here, partially because the witness is not being super evasive.”