A Massachusetts judge said Tuesday that she’s denying the defense request for a mistrial in the Karen Read murder case, who stands accused of killing her Boston police officer boyfriend, John O’Keefe.
On Monday, testimony regarding a German Shepherd named Chloe took center stage at the Norfolk Superior Court, as emergency physician and forensic pathologist, Dr. Marie Russell, testified that holes found on O’Keefe’s shirt and wounds on his arm matched dog bites.
Chloe lived at the Canton home where O’Keefe’s body was found in the snow in January 2022. Chloe has become central to Read’s defense, according to USA Today.
On Tuesday, Judge Beverly Cannone denied the defense’s motion for a mistrial and ruled that the prosecution could continue questioning O’Keefe’s sweatshirt being swabbed for dog DNA. An expert during Read’s first trial, which edned with a hung jury, said that there was no dog DNA found on O’Keefe’s clothes.
Read’s defense attorneys argued that police framed her for O’Keefe’s murder. They claimed officers at the home on the night in question beat him, let Chloe attack him, and left his body outside in the cold. They also alleged that Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator, covered up the crime.
Prosecutors, however, alleged that Read reversed her Lexus SUV and fatally struck O’Keefe shortly after midnight on January 29, 2022, outside of friend Brian Albert’s home.
Russell testified this week that she based her testimony regarding the dog bites on patterns similar to those in other canine attacks she has seen.
MassLive reports that Read’s lawyer, Robert Alessi, then objected to the prosecution’s questioning about DNA swabs conducted on O’Keefe’s clothes.
“The prosecution strategically chose not to bring in the foundation whatsoever in this trial,” Alessi said. “That can not be reversed. That can not be cured. That can not be dislodged.”
“The prosecution has to suffer the consequences. Ms. Read is entitled to a … fair trial. What has just occurred is antithetical, abhorrent to a fair trial.”
On Tuesday, prosecutor Hank Brennan contended that the defense already knew there was no dog DNA on O’Keefe’s clothing. He explained that the prosecution planned to challenge Russell’s testimony, despite not addressing the defense’s “theories” in their initial case presentation.
Brennan also brought up a December 12, 2024, hearing in which Alessi asked Russell about the DNA issue.
“That is enough for the court to understand the representations are wholly mistaken by attorney Alessi. Wholly,” he said.
Read has pleaded not guilty.
The trial continues. Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: Karen Read/LinkedIn and John O’Keefe/Boston Police Department]
