Karen Read’s second murder trial has erupted in Massachusetts, centering around the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe. Key to Read’s defense is the argument that O’Keefe’s arm injuries were the result of an animal attack, specifically from Chloe, a German Shepherd owned by a nearby Boston police officer. This angle was previously presented during Read’s 2024 trial, which ended in a hung jury.
Prosecutors allege that Read intentionally ran O’Keefe down with her SUV, leaving him to die in the snow. In contrast, her defense claims that O’Keefe was fatally beaten by police officers, framing her as an innocent party. A pivotal moment in the trial came when a friend of the couple testified that Read admitted, “I hit him,” the morning O’Keefe was discovered dead, which the defense contests by highlighting inconsistencies in her testimony.
The potential role of Chloe is significant; Read’s lawyer contends that demonstrating a dog could’ve inflicted the injuries may undermine the prosecution’s narrative. Both sides plan to present canine behavior experts to interpret the injuries on O’Keefe’s arm. The judge has allowed a physician to testify that the marks may indeed be dog bites while restricting the prosecution from drawing definitive conclusions.
As the trial unfolds, jurors are exposed to conflicting testimonies, raising doubts around the prosecution’s case. The proceedings are closely monitored, with live coverage available from CourtTV.
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