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Key Investigator Faces Cross-Examination in Karen Read Retrial Over Boston Officer's Death

State Police Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik testifies on forensic evidence, early theories, and investigative integrity as the defense challenges the case's handling.

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Karen Read, left, and her defense attorney Robert Alessi listen to Massachusetts State Police Sergeant Yuriy Bukhenik testify during the trial of Karen Read in Norfolk Superior Court, in Dedham, Mass., on May 8, 2025.
In her ongoing trial for the murder of boyfriend John O’Keefe, Karen Read faced scrutiny after a video emerged showing her potentially raising her middle finger in court. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)

Overview

  • Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik returned to the stand for cross-examination in the retrial of Karen Read, accused of fatally striking her boyfriend, Officer John O’Keefe, with her SUV in 2022.
  • Bukhenik testified about forensic evidence, including O’Keefe’s injuries and taillight shards, which the prosecution argues support the vehicular homicide theory.
  • The defense questioned Bukhenik on initial speculation that O’Keefe might have been struck with a cocktail glass and on the role of disgraced former investigator Michael Proctor, who was fired for misconduct.
  • Prosecutors sought to distance themselves from Proctor, with Bukhenik asserting that the investigation was conducted professionally despite defense claims of a police conspiracy to frame Read.
  • The trial, following a 2024 mistrial due to a hung jury, continues to examine the credibility of witnesses and the integrity of the evidence presented.