Karen Read Faces New Challenges in Court as Prosecution Seeks More Evidence

Karen Read, who is set to face a retrial in January on charges related to the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, returned to court for a contentious motions hearing. Prosecutors are seeking additional evidence to bolster their case, including Read’s parents’ phone records. Special Prosecutor Hank Brennan argued that the phone calls Read made to her parents shortly after the incident could imply her awareness of the alleged crime. “Ms. Read calls her father and her mother a little after 1 o’clock on the night she struck and killed John O’Keefe,” Brennan said. “She knew she had done something terrible. She knew she had struck John O’Keefe and left him behind.” Read’s attorney, Elizabeth Little, strongly opposed the motion, describing it as a “fishing expedition.” She emphasized privacy concerns, stating, “The Commonwealth already has Read’s cell phone records. They should not need her parents’ records as well.” Little highlighted how prior defense motions to obtain phone records from individuals allegedly involved in a cover-up had been denied on similar privacy grounds. Judge Beverly Cannone deferred ruling on the motion, leaving the issue unresolved for now. David Yanetti, another member of Read’s defense team, raised concerns about Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey. Yanetti alleged Morrissey had engaged in improper communications and noted that the DA had spelled Read’s name as "Reed" in some communications. “We don’t know if he did that for the purpose of avoiding a FOIA request or if he just misspelled my client’s name,” Yanetti said, adding that Morrissey’s phone was set to auto-delete messages after 30 days. Karen Read’s legal defense team continues to grow as the high-profile case moves toward retrial. During the hearing, Read’s attorneys sought approval for Robert Alessi, a New York-based partner at DLA Piper LLP, to join the team. “With his background, with his experience, he is going to add value to this team and protect my client’s constitutional rights,” Yanetti explained. Alessi’s expertise in cross-examining expert witnesses is expected to be pivotal as the prosecution plans to introduce a new expert in the retrial. Brennan revealed that the expert would testify that O’Keefe’s injuries were survivable had he received treatment within one to two hours. The prosecution also filed motions seeking unedited video footage and notes from media interviews Read conducted. These motions, opposed by the media outlets, have yet to receive a response from Read’s attorneys. As the January trial approaches, both sides continue to prepare for what promises to be a closely watched courtroom battle. #KarenRead #BostonPolice #JohnOKeefe #CriminalTrial #LegalUpdates #Justice #CourtroomDrama Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com