Defense attorney claims lack of evidence in Karen Read trial

In May 2025, the defense case for Karen Read, accused of hitting and killing her boyfriend John O'Keefe, began in a high-profile trial in Dedham's Norfolk Superior Court, Massachusetts. The trial followed a previous mistrial in 2024 due to a hung jury. During the trial, defense attorney Alan Jackson took a more prominent role in presenting evidence and questioning witnesses. He moved for a finding of not guilty, arguing that no reasonable jury could conclude that a collision occurred between Read's SUV and O'Keefe, emphasizing that significant elements of the prosecution's case lacked evidence. Furthermore, a prominent aspect of the defense strategy might involve showing that the injuries to O'Keefe were not due to a collision but possibly caused by another source, such as a dog during a fight. The trial, which garnered national attention, revolves around the events from January 2022 when O'Keefe was found dead in the snow after a night of drinking with Read. Throughout the proceedings, several witnesses have provided testimonies, and the defense anticipates their case will last one and a half to two weeks. Read’s attorney emphasized the need to reconstruct timelines accurately to provide clarity and support the defense's narrative that O'Keefe could have locked his phone prior to any alleged collision. The prosecution, on the other hand, concluded its case after presenting 38 witnesses, which included testimony from crash reconstruction experts. Both sides have faced intense scrutiny and fiery exchanges during the ongoing trial, indicative of the high stakes involved and the complexities surrounding the evidence presented.