Prosecutors push to ban key experts from Karen Read's retrial
- A pre-trial hearing for Karen Read's retrial was held in Dedham, Massachusetts.
- Prosecutors are attempting to exclude expert testimony from ARCCA witnesses, who previously testified in her defense.
- This retrial follows a mistrial that occurred in July 2023 due to a hung jury.
In Dedham, Massachusetts, a pre-trial hearing took place on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, in preparation for the retrial of Karen Read, who had previously faced charges related to the death of John O'Keefe. The prosecution's strategy involves contesting the inclusion of certain defense witnesses, specifically experts from ARCCA, an organization that specializes in crash reconstruction. These experts, Daniel Wolfe and Andrew Rentschler, were instrumental in Read's first trial, where they opined that the injuries sustained by O'Keefe were not consistent with being hit by a vehicle, a crucial point in the defense's argument. The initial trial had concluded in a mistrial due to a hung jury on July 1, 2023, pushing the case back into the courtroom for a retrial. The Commonwealth, represented by special prosecutor Hank Brennan, filed motions to exclude Wolfe and Rentschler based on concerns about their ability to meet Massachusetts Rule 14 obligations concerning evidence sharing. Brennan argued that despite a prior agreement, complexities in the witnesses’ employment history could hinder proper compliance with these essential legal standards. The focus on excluding expert testimony highlights the contentious nature of the upcoming trial and suggests that the prosecution could be seeking a different outcome following the first trial's uncertain result. As the retrial is tentatively scheduled for this spring, the legal battles surrounding witness credibility and testimony are expected to continue, potentially altering the course of the proceedings. The ongoing developments in this case raise questions about the future of Karen Read's legal pursuits and the evidentiary strategies both sides are poised to undertake as they prepare for the next phase of litigation.