Karen Read Retrial Nears Its Conclusion as Witness Testimony Takes Center Stage
Karen Read’s high-profile retrial in connection with the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, is approaching its conclusion. The trial marks a pivotal moment in a case that has captivated Massachusetts and beyond, possibly drawing to a close years of emotional upheaval for Read, O’Keefe’s family, and dozens of witnesses who took the stand across two emotionally charged and polarizing trials.
In this retrial—after the first ended with a hung jury—Massachusetts prosecutors and Read’s defense team collectively called 49 witnesses. The list included friends and acquaintances, law enforcement personnel, and forensic experts who provided technical analyses of both digital and physical evidence. Together, their testimonies aimed to resolve one central question: What really happened outside the house at 34 Fairview Road in Canton, Massachusetts, around 12:30 a.m. on January 29, 2022?
Prosecutors allege that Read, intoxicated, struck O’Keefe with her Lexus SUV and left him in the snow to die. The defense, however, has strongly denied this, presenting Read as a scapegoat in a larger cover-up. They argue that O’Keefe was murdered inside the home and that a circle of law enforcement and civilians conspired to pin the blame on her, citing investigative bias and procedural misconduct.
Read has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter while intoxicated, and leaving the scene of a fatal collision.
Key Witnesses and Testimonies Highlighted
Over eight weeks of testimony, several witnesses stood out for the critical light they shed on both the prosecution and defense theories. The Justice Review outlines some of the most pivotal testimonies:
Jennifer McCabe — Friend of O’Keefe
A central witness for the prosecution, McCabe was present during the events leading up to and following O’Keefe’s death. She testified that she expected O’Keefe and Read to arrive at 34 Fairview Road for an after-party but said they never entered the house. The next morning, a frantic call from Read prompted a search, which ended when they found O’Keefe’s body in the snow.
McCabe recalled Read’s reaction: “I hit him, I hit him, I hit him.” Her testimony was reinforced by others on the scene. However, the defense challenged her credibility, highlighting her close family ties to law enforcement—including Brian Albert, the homeowner—and suggesting her narrative was coordinated to protect those inside the house.
Kerry Roberts — O’Keefe’s Friend
Roberts testified about noticing damage to Read’s SUV taillight early on January 29, as she pulled into McCabe’s driveway. She said she heard Read reference the damage while speaking on the phone. However, the defense presented surveillance footage suggesting the exchange did not happen as Roberts remembered, leading her to admit she had misremembered the sequence.
Brian Loughran — Snowplow Driver
Loughran, a defense witness, said he drove past 34 Fairview Road several times in the early morning and did not see a body in the yard, even though he had a clear line of sight to the front of the house. Asked directly if he saw a man lying there, he answered, “No.” This contradicted the timeline offered by prosecutors.
Jonathan Diamandis — Friend of Lead Investigator
Diamandis, a longtime friend of State Trooper Michael Proctor (who was involved in the original investigation), was called by the defense but ended up reading several misogynistic and vulgar text messages Proctor had sent about Read. The texts, which included language like “whack job c*nt,” were damaging to the prosecution’s claim of a fair and unbiased investigation. Diamandis confirmed the messages’ authenticity but stated Proctor never suggested planting evidence or framing Read.
Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik — Massachusetts State Police
Testifying for the prosecution, Sgt. Bukhenik described the investigation process and downplayed Proctor’s role, calling it a “team effort” and referring to Proctor as a “case officer” rather than the lead. The defense pushed back, highlighting multiple documents bearing Proctor’s name and suggesting he had operational control.
Bukhenik also addressed the crude texts, stating:
“That text message does not show integrity … That text message does not show honor.”
The defense further used Bukhenik’s testimony to introduce Read’s flirtatious text exchanges with Brian Higgins, another partygoer on the night in question, suggesting he should have been investigated more thoroughly.
Read’s Media Interviews
Although Read did not testify, prosecutors introduced several clips from her interviews with national outlets, including NBC’s Dateline and Investigation Discovery. In one emotional clip, Read questioned herself:
“Could I have clipped him?”
“Could I have tagged him in the knee and incapacitated him?”
“He didn’t look mortally wounded… but could I have done something that knocked him out?”
In other segments, she strongly denied hitting O’Keefe at all:
“I did not drive my car into John. Didn’t reverse it. Did not hit John with my car. There is zero chance this is an accident. There is zero chance John was hit by a vehicle.”
As closing arguments draw near, the weight of these testimonies will rest with the jury. With public opinion fiercely divided and the stakes impossibly high, the retrial’s verdict may bring either closure or even deeper controversy.
