A WITNESS in Karen Read’s murder trial has been branded “Officer Diva” as she testified that the defense tried to get her to lie for them.
Kelly Dever, once an officer in the Canton police force and now serving with the Boston Police Department, modified her testimony while in court, attributing her decision to the intense pressure exerted by defense lawyers.
Dever was working patrol on the night John O’Keefe, Read’s boyfriend, died in January 2022.
The accused, Read, aged 45, allegedly ran over O’Keefe with her vehicle, subsequently abandoning him to succumb in the snow, following dropping him off at a gathering at an acquaintance’s home.
Her lawyers insist Read has been framed in a police conspiracy and that someone inside the house killed O’Keefe.
On Monday, Dever was asked to testify about statements she had previously made about what she saw while working at the police department that night.
Her exchange with Read’s defense attorney Alan Jackson quickly heated up as Dever said she had “no idea why I’m here.”
After a few tense back-and-forths, Jackson mispronounced Dever’s last name and called her “Officer Diva.”
“Just answer my question, Officer Diva – Dever,” Jackson said.
When answering the question, Dever fired back and called him out for the petty nickname.
“Like you can’t remember my name, I don’t remember,” she said.
