Karen Read’s Retrial Hearing Suspended After Judge Expresses ‘Grave Concern’ Over New Information
Published on February 18, 2025, at 2:17 PM PST
In a surprising turn of events in the Karen Read case, the judge overseeing her retrial has abruptly suspended an evidentiary hearing after raising serious concerns about new information presented by prosecutors.
Karen Read, a Massachusetts woman, is accused of fatally running over her Boston police officer boyfriend, John O’Keefe, with her SUV following a night of drinking with friends in 2022. She maintains her innocence, claiming she is being framed and is a victim of a murder cover-up.
The hearing was progressing normally on Tuesday until Judge Beverly Cannone called for a recess, citing the need to address the new revelations from the prosecution. Special prosecutor Hank Brennan sought to exclude testimony from two crash reconstruction experts who were involved in the federal investigation of the case, leading to the judge’s decision to suspend the proceedings.
The crash reconstruction experts had previously testified as defense witnesses in Read’s first trial, where they asserted that O’Keefe’s injuries were inconsistent with being struck by a vehicle. However, the prosecution now alleges that the defense team paid the experts $23,925 for their testimony, contradicting earlier claims that they were not hired by the defense.
Karen Read’s attorney, Alan Jackson, denied the allegations outside the courtroom, stating that he did not pay the crash experts to testify on behalf of his client. The judge expressed concerns that the new information could have significant implications for the defense and defense counsel, prompting the suspension of the hearing.
The first trial ended in a mistrial after the jury acquitted Read of second-degree murder and fleeing the scene of an accident but deadlocked on vehicular manslaughter charges. The retrial is scheduled for April, with prosecutors alleging that Read intentionally ran over O’Keefe following an argument before fleeing the scene in a drunken state. Conversely, Read’s defense team claims she was framed after a dispute between O’Keefe and his fellow police officers.
The developments in the case have added a new layer of complexity to an already contentious legal battle, leaving both sides grappling with the implications of the judge’s decision to suspend the hearing. As the case continues to unfold, the truth behind John O’Keefe’s tragic death remains shrouded in uncertainty.
