Unexpected developments in the case of Karen Read, accused of a fatal SUV incident involving her boyfriend John O'Keefe, brought Tuesday's hearing to an abrupt halt. Norfolk Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone expressed "grave concern" over what she learned from the prosecution, prompting concerns about the defense's strategy and their counsel. "The Commonwealth just provided the court with information that causes me grave concern," Cannone stated, as reported by Boston 25 News. The specifics of this new information remain vague, but it is clear that its implications could be significant.
The pretrial motions hearing began with a defense motion demanding comprehensive surveillance footage and metadata from the Canton Police Department. Metadata includes key details such as file creation times and modification records, potentially critical to the case. However, prosecutor Hank Brennan asserts that the defense has been provided ample access to the video in question, signaling a breakdown in the previously informal exchange of evidence. These developments were first detailed by NBC Boston, raising questions about how both sides will move forward.
During the hearing before its suspension, additional motions were considered, including requests for unredacted records connected to a separate case and internal investigations which the defense claims bear relevance to their arguments about credibility concerns. The prosecution, on the other hand, sought reciprocal discovery, hoping to learn more about the defense’s planned approach to examining commonwealth expert witnesses.
Last week's legal strategies also came under scrutiny. Read’s legal team filed an appeal aiming to dismiss two of the charges against their client, following a decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court denying such dismissals. Her legal representation, Martin G. Weinberg, emphasized their persistent fight for constitutional rights in a statement to NBC Boston, stating, "While we have great respect for the Commonwealth’s highest court, Double Jeopardy is a federal constitutional right. We are strongly considering whether to seek federal habeas relief from what we continue to contend are violations of Ms. Read’s federally guaranteed constitutional rights."
The case has been marked by contention over expert testimony and legal procedures, with the defense previously using ARCCA forensic consultants to challenge whether O'Keefe was indeed struck by Read's vehicle. ARCCA's role and the admissibility of expert testimony in the upcoming trial now seem more uncertain than ever, given the prosecutor's reference to defense communication with ARCCA before the first trial and a $23,000 bill linked to the defense, information revealed in the context of what Brennan described as "unfair, imbalanced, and hidden," as per Boston 25 News.
