Karen Read’s Retrial: Key Changes and Challenges Emerge

DEDHAM, Mass. — The retrial of Karen Read, accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, has begun with several notable differences from her first trial, which ended in a mistrial last year.

Read, 45, has once again pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death. Prosecutors allege that on January 29, 2022, Read, after a night of drinking, struck O’Keefe with her SUV and left him to die in a snowbank outside a Canton home.

Unlike the initial trial, where prosecutor Adam Lally led the case, the retrial features special prosecutor Hank Brennan. Brennan has a reputation for handling complex law enforcement matters and aims to present a case focusing heavily on forensic evidence, including cellphone data and witness testimonies.

A significant change in Read’s defense team also marks this retrial. New attorney Robert Alessi is employing a scientific approach in cross-examining key witnesses, while Victoria George, who served as an alternate juror in the first trial, brings a fresh perspective to strategy development.

One of the most critical aspects of the retrial has been Read’s own commentary, which was not presented in the first trial. Prosecutors have used clips from her media interviews to display inconsistencies in her statements. “You’re gonna hear from her own lips about her admissions of extraordinary intoxication and driving the Lexus,” Brennan told the courtroom.

On the defense side, attorney Alan Jackson has targeted the credibility of Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator in the case, who was fired after the previous trial for sending offensive text messages. Jackson claimed Proctor’s actions compromised the investigation, stating, “This case carries a malignancy … a cancer that cannot be cut out.”

Additionally, the trial’s public scrutiny highlights issues regarding jury selection, with potential jurors possibly influenced by extensive media coverage. Legal expert Daniel Medwed noted that the case has drawn attention due to the gender dynamics and the involvement of law enforcement in the alleged cover-up.

The retrial’s progress is being closely monitored, with keen interest in whether the new strategies will alter the outcome compared to the first trial. As this high-profile case unfolds in the Norfolk County Superior Court, the stakes remain high for both Read and the prosecution.