Karen Read Retrial to Begin April 1 as Legal Motions Conclude

The contentious case involving the death of Boston police officer John O'Keefe moves forward with unresolved disputes over evidence, defense strategies, and courtroom procedures.

Karen Read's retrial for the alleged second-degree murder of John O'Keefe is set to commence on April 1, following the conclusion of pretrial hearings on March 25.
Judge Beverly Cannone is expected to rule on key motions, including the defense's request to present a third-party culprit theory and the prosecution's call for an expanded buffer zone around the courthouse.
Prosecutors allege that Read, after a night of drinking and arguing with O'Keefe, ran him over with her car, while the defense claims O'Keefe was beaten inside a colleague's house and his body staged outside.
The case remains highly polarized, with demonstrations by supporters of both Read and O'Keefe's family outside the courthouse, raising concerns about potential jury influence.
The retrial follows a mistrial in July 2024, where a deadlocked jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict after contentious deliberations.