The murder retrial of Karen Read took a key turn as Judge Beverly Cannone denied the defense’s motion for a mistrial. According to 7NEWS, the motion was filed after a dispute over DNA evidence raised during the prosecution’s questioning.
The case involves the January 2022 death of Boston police officer John O’Keefe, who was Read’s boyfriend. Prosecutors argue that Read struck O’Keefe with her vehicle, while the defense claims she is being framed as part of a police coverup.
Defense attorney Robert Alessi objected to the prosecution's mention of DNA swabs taken from O'Keefe's clothing, saying it was introduced without proper foundation. “The prosecution strategically chose not to bring in the foundation whatsoever in this trial,” Alessi said, according to MassLive, calling the move unfair and potentially harmful to the trial’s integrity.
Judge Cannone allowed the prosecution to proceed with questions about the absence of dog DNA on O’Keefe’s clothing. This challenges the defense’s theory that O’Keefe’s injuries were caused by a dog attack rather than a vehicle. The defense’s argument relied on the testimony of Dr. Marie Russell, a dog bite expert, who said the injuries were consistent with an animal attack.
Prosecutor Hank Brennan responded by pointing to a December 12, 2024, transcript where the defense had previously discussed DNA during Dr. Russell’s direct examination. “That is enough for the court to understand the representations are wholly mistaken by attorney Alessi. Wholly,” Brennan stated, according to MassLive.
Karen Read, 45, is facing second-degree murder charges in the ongoing retrial.
