Judge Beverly Cannone paused the second murder trial of Karen Read on Thursday, allowing jurors a day off as both parties addressed final procedural issues before the case goes to the jury.
The defense ended its case Wednesday, concluding with testimony from biomechanist and accident reconstruction expert Andrew Rentschler.
The jurors are expected to return to the Norfolk Superior Court in Massachusetts on Friday morning, before 9 a.m., to hear the final arguments from both legal teams. The jury is anticipated to begin deliberations before the weekend, as reported by USA Today.
“I don’t want to end the charge and send them home for the weekend,” Cannone remarked concerning the juror instructions. “That’s not fair after they’ve waited so long.”
Over the past eight weeks, the jury heard testimony from more than 40 people, including experts offering accounts that detailed the events leading up to the discovery of Boston police officer John O’Keefe’s body.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, prosecutors alleged that Read intentionally hit her boyfriend, O’Keefe, with the rear passenger side of her Lexus SUV on January 29, 2022, after dropping him off outside a home on Fairview Road in Canton.
Read has pleaded not guilty. Her defense team argued she was framed and claimed that O’Keefe entered the house—then owned by another Boston officer, Brian Albert, —where he was fatally beaten and possibly attacked by a German Shepherd. They said his body was then left outside during blizzard.
A hung jury ended Read’s first trial in July 2024.
Read is facing charges that include second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, along with leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death.
Cannone said she would allow both sides an hour and 15 minutes each to present closing arguments.
Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: Karen Read/LinkedIn and John O’Keefe/Boston Police Department]
