Karen Read’s retrial for the murder of her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, has officially commenced, following extensive jury selection that concluded this week. O’Keefe, who served as a 16-year veteran of the Boston Police Department, died under contentious circumstances that have raised numerous questions regarding the investigation and the prosecution’s case.
She is being charged with second-degree murder, motor vehicular manslaughter while driving under the influence, and leaving the scene of a collision with death. After her first trial last summer ended in a hung jury, pandemonium ensued. The new trial is sure to further explore the complicating factors at play in the case and in the personal interactions between the two.
The defense argues that Read was set up by Brian Albert and an unidentified accomplice. Their conclusion is that she did take O’Keefe to Albert’s house and later saw him go in, which counters the prosecution story that she was an accessory. No wonder that this case has attracted so much attention. What continues to pull people in are its tragic aspects and the compelling Pennsylvania-based allegations of serious misconduct against the chief investigator.
Allegations of Framing and Misconduct
As we previously noted, Read’s defense team has called into question the integrity of the Michael Proctor – led investigation that concluded Read was guilty. They contend that he cherry-picked evidence and permitted prejudice to affect his analyses. Proctor acknowledged making unprofessional comments regarding Read. He went on to leak the specifics of the investigation to his sister, who is best friends with Albert’s sister-in-law.
Given the public outcry spurred by these and other controversies, the defense team has tried to advance a new theory about how O’Keefe died. They claim he could have been mortally throttled, mauled and gnawed by a hound on Albert’s premises. This paints a whole different picture than the prosecution’s narrative that it was Read’s vehicle which inflicted his injuries.
Proctor’s family members have publicly come to his defense against what they call an unjust smear campaign against him. They stated:
“The messages prove one thing, and that Michael is human — not corrupt, not incompetent in his role as a homicide detective, and certainly not unfit to continue to be a Massachusetts State Trooper.” – Michael Proctor’s family
They further expressed their frustration with what they see as relentless scrutiny of Proctor’s actions:
“Despite the Massachusetts State Police’s dubious and relentless efforts to find more inculpatory evidence against Michael Proctor on his phones, computers and cruiser data, the messages on his personal phone — referring to the person who killed a fellow beloved Boston Police Officer — are all that they found.” – Michael Proctor’s family
The Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office has painted a different picture of events leading up to O’Keefe’s death. They painted a picture of a poisonous collaboration between Read and O’Keefe, detailing accusations of drunkenness and rage. Prosecution’s claims Prosecution alleges Read intentionally reversed her SUV into O’Keefe, running him down and leaving him to die.
“unfairly exploits and scapegoats one of their own, a trooper with a 12-year unblemished record.” – Michael Proctor’s family
The Prosecution’s Case
At this point, prosecutors have said they will present evidence that they say is meant to show Read’s responsibility in the crash. Widely reported descriptions of the relationship Read had with O’Keefe is key to understanding the events that led to his death.
The prosecution’s case hinges on establishing a timeline where Read was seen driving her Lexus SUV before O’Keefe’s fatal injuries were discovered. Their goal is to persuade the jury that her actions were intentional and not a mistake.
To strengthen their case, Read’s defense has been allowed to introduce a third-party culprit defense. This enables them to subpoena witnesses and submit evidence that supports a much different narrative than what happened with O’Keefe’s death.
The Defense Strategy
The defense plans to highlight inconsistencies in witness statements and emphasize their theory that O’Keefe suffered fatal injuries at Albert’s home. With this alternative narrative, they seek to establish reasonable doubt in jurors’ minds about Read’s guilt.
Hank Brennan, who heads Read’s reconstituted defense team, adds mountains of legal experience to the mix in the retrial. He was on staff, prior to that, as a prosecutor and represented high profile people in criminal cases. Her goal is to dismantle the prosecution’s arguments and bring out any holes in the prosecution’s arguments, especially in the investigation they did or didn’t do.
Hank Brennan, who leads Read’s defense team, brings extensive legal experience to the retrial. He previously served as a prosecutor and represented notable figures in criminal cases. Brennan aims to dismantle the prosecution’s arguments and shed light on potential flaws within their investigation.