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2w ago

Karen Read Retrial Officially Begins with Opening Statements

A newly seated jury hears conflicting arguments as the high-profile case revisits the death of Boston officer John O’Keefe and allegations of investigative misconduct.

Karen Read, with her attorneys David Yannetti, left, and Alan Jackson, appeared in court for jury selection in her murder trial on April 15, 2025, in Dedham, Massachusetts.
Defendant Karen Read and attorney Alan Jackson review jury questionnaires during the second day of jury selection in Read's retrial at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. on April 2, 2025.
Karen Read's supporters cheered as she left Norfolk County Superior Court.

Overview

  • Opening statements commence in Karen Read's retrial, with a jury of 18 members, including six alternates, seated after three weeks of selection.
  • Read faces charges of second-degree murder, DUI manslaughter, and leaving the scene, with prosecutors alleging she intentionally struck O’Keefe with her SUV in 2022.
  • The defense argues Read was framed by party hosts and claims O’Keefe was beaten and bitten by a dog inside the home where he was found dead in the snow.
  • Special Prosecutor Hank Brennan leads the case for the state, while pretrial rulings limit the defense from naming certain alternate suspects in opening statements.
  • The trial follows a 2024 mistrial and ongoing scrutiny over investigative misconduct, including the firing of lead investigator Michael Proctor for unprofessional conduct.