Karen Read's Defense and Prosecution Request Delay in High-Stakes Second Trial

The Trial Of Karen Read | Justice For John O'Keefe

Both the prosecution and defense in Karen Read's high-profile criminal case have requested additional time to prepare for the upcoming second trial. In a joint filing on Monday, they asked the judge to reschedule the trial from January 27 to April 1, allowing both sides “adequate time” to prepare.
Read, 44, from Mansfield, faces accusations of striking her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, with her SUV outside a Canton residence and leaving him in severe winter conditions following a night out. According to court records, the alleged incident occurred on January 29, 2022, following visits to two Canton bars, C.F. McCarthy's and Waterfall Bar & Grille.
The first trial, which concluded in July, resulted in a hung jury, unable to reach a unanimous decision on the charges against Read. As she awaits her second trial, Read is also seeking to have certain charges dismissed by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC), which will hear oral arguments in the appeal this week.
The initial trial highlighted numerous complications for the prosecution, including questionable conduct from a Massachusetts State Police trooper involved in the investigation. In what the trooper’s department called a "very regrettable" instance, inappropriate messages were exchanged, leading to the trooper's suspension and triggering internal affairs investigations for other officers. Additionally, Read’s defense questioned the circumstances surrounding damage to her SUV, with concerns raised over surveillance footage that allegedly showed the vehicle’s state in an inverted orientation.
Special Assistant District Attorney Hank Brennan, appointed by Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey to handle the retrial, requested court approval on Friday to reassemble and analyze the telematics system in Read's vehicle. According to the prosecution, the SUV’s telematics could provide critical data, including GPS locations, speed, and engine status, to clarify the sequence of events surrounding O'Keefe's death.
In Monday’s filing, Brennan's team disclosed that they have enlisted additional expert witnesses, including a biomechanical engineer, who are expected to analyze and testify regarding key evidence. The addition of these experts, Brennan argued, will necessitate more time to generate comprehensive reports. The defense, too, emphasized the need for time to review and respond to these findings.
On the civil front, O'Keefe's family filed a lawsuit in August against Read and the two bars visited on the night of the incident. In that case, a judge recently granted a six-month stay on Read’s deposition and discovery requirements, delaying them until after her second criminal trial.
With both the prosecution and defense aligning in their request, the decision now rests with the judge. As this legal battle continues, both sides are working to address gaps exposed during the first trial in an effort to present a more robust case when they reconvene in April.
#KarenReadTrial #BostonPolice #JohnOKeefe #CriminalDefense #CourtUpdate #MassachusettsLaw #SecondTrial
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