DEDHAM, Mass. (Court TV) — The high-profile trial of a Massachusetts woman accused of killing her police officer boyfriend is underway.
(L) Karen Read appears in court Jan. 5, 2024. (Court TV), (R) Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe (Boston Police Department)
Karen Read is charged in the death of Boston police officer John O’Keefe, who was found dead in the snow outside the home of a fellow officer in Jan. 2022. Prosecutors accuse Read of hitting O’Keefe with her car while dropping him off at a party at the residence and leaving him to die. Her attorneys allege a sloppy investigation and a cover-up.
RELATED | Karen Read murder case: A timeline of events
Read is charged with second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter while driving under the influence, and leaving the scene of a collision causing injury or death. She is facing life in prison if convicted at trial.
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Read’s case has captured attention across the globe with allegations of a police cover-up orchestrated by parties with “significant relationships,” alleged “romantic entanglements” involving Read and O’Keefe, and even a blogger vocal in their defense for Read facing charges. Protesters have also taken center stage in their fight against a “buffer zone,” accusing the prosecution of going on an “unchecked bender.”
DAILY TRIAL UPDATES
DAY 1 – 4/29/24
- Prosecutor Adam Lally tells the jury that no one saw John O’Keefe enter the Albert home the night he was killed in his opening statement in the murder trial of Karen Read.
- Defense attorney David Yannetti tells the jury Karen Read was framed for the murder of her police officer boyfriend, John O’Keefe.
- Paul O’Keefe, the victim’s brother, was the first witness for the prosecution.
- The jury saw footage from John O’Keefe’s driveway camera in the hours after he was found, showing Karen Read coming and going with her belongings. She appeared to check her car in the driveway twice before leaving.
- Erin O’Keefe, Paul’s wife and the victim’s sister-in-law, testified to her friendship with Karen Read.
- Erin said that during a trip over New Year’s Eve to Aruba, Read texted her to say that she fought with O’Keefe after allegedly seeing him kissing the sister of a friend with whom they were on vacation.
- Erin said that when describing what happened, Read “said she had to remember the bad times” which struck her as an odd comment, but said that Read had been medicated at the time.
- Canton Police Officer Steven Saraf, the first officer who arrived on the scene that night, testified that Karen Read was visibly upset and kept saying, “This is my fault, I did this.”
- Seraf observed footprints and track marks around O’Keefe’s body, but none coming from the house.
- The jury saw police dashcam footage of Read pacing back and forth and screaming.
