As the retrial for Karen Read looms, her defense faces a significant setback—the courts have blocked the testimony of a key expert witness. Read, 45, stands accused of the second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death, in connection to an incident involving her boyfriend, a Boston police officer.
According to NBC Boston, Norfolk Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone ruled against the defense team's request to call Michael Easter, a former FBI agent, to the stand to discuss possible failures in the police investigation post the death of John O’Keefe in January 2022. The judge found that jurors should be able to determine whether police procedures were followed without expert testimony. "Through zealous cross-examination of police witnesses the defendant can cast doubt on the reliability of the investigation by demonstrating how it differed from standard practices and procedures," Cannone wrote.
The defense had aimed to use Easter's testimony to point out the alleged flaws and procedural issues in the investigation. "The court finds that expert testimony is not needed for the jury to determine whether or not the investigation was compromised by any failure to follow procedures," Cannone stated, as reported by Boston 25 News. Special prosecutor Hank Brennan contested Easter's credentials to provide such an opinion, emphasizing the inappropriateness of essentially summarizing the defense's arguments through his testimony.
Meanwhile, Judge Cannone released a list of 150 potential witnesses that may be called during the retrial, underscoring the extensive preparation both sides are taking in approaching the case. Read's first trial ended in July 2024 with a hung jury, prolonging a deliberation process wrapped in controversy and emotion, made evident by nationwide standouts organized by Read supporters this past Sunday.
As jury selection begins on April 1, all eyes will once again focus on Dedham’s Norfolk Superior Court, where a buffer zone has been extended to keep demonstrations at bay. These latest developments come on the heels of Michael Proctor, the lead investigator in Read's case, being dismissed from his position with the Massachusetts State Police. The unfolding events in court may well dictate the chapter yet to be added in this high-profile case.
