The opening remark is scheduled for the second murder case of Karen Read, who is accused of ramming her boyfriend, a Boston policeman, with her SUV and leaving him dead in a snowstorm.
The 45-year-old defense lawyer said she was framed for the death of O'Keefe in January 2022.
Ten days after inquiring hundreds of prospective jurors, the jury's layoffs ended on April 15, with nine women and nine men being selected. Judge Beverly Judge Canon said the trial could take six to eight weeks.
This split case has attracted the attention of YouTubers, Tiktokers, and Internet detectives and has become the subject of podcasts, movies and TV shows.
The shells banned supporters from displaying in court buildings in Didem, Massachusetts, prompting some Red supporters to sue the shells on orders. A federal judge ruled on April 14 against Red's supporters, meaning protesters will have to stay away from the court.
As the retrial progresses, Reid's lawyers also asked the U.S. Supreme Court to file two of the three charges against her. The defense said the juror unanimously agreed to acquit her second-degree murder in the first trial, leaving the crash, causing injury or death, and retrying her beyond the third and final charge would pose a double danger.
On April 9, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson denied Red's emergency petition demanded that the court stop retrial before a decision was made. According to the Supreme Court's website, a response to the petition for Read's removal of the allegations will be filed on May 5.
What happened to Karen Read Case? Timeline of the pivotal moments of the John O'Keefe murder
What happened in the first trial?
During Read's first trial, 19 jurors were selected from the 401-person group and alternated for five days. More than 65 witnesses were called, including family members, forensic experts and police investigators.
Prosecutors allegedly Read hit O'Keefe in her car and left him at the Boston police home after the couple quarreled. They cite evidence, including the discovery of O'Keefe's DNA's broken taillights, witnesses repeatedly uttering “I hit him” narratives at the scene, and angry voicemail emails left her, accusations she left after his death O'Keefe died.
On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, Reid and her attorney appeared in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedem, Massachusetts, with supporters outside the court.
Meanwhile, the defense claimed that Read had withdrawn O'Keefe and then a fight broke out inside the house, pointing his finger at some other potential suspects. Read's lawyers cite O'Keefe's injuries, which they say were caused by beatings and animal attacks, a misspelled Google search by O'Keefe's friends asking how long they died in the cold and police, and were killed in the investigation, which is cover-up evidence.
The first trial lasted nine weeks. After five days of deliberation, the jury remained in a deadlock.
How will Karen Read’s second murder trial be different?
Defendant Karen reviewed the next day's jury review jury questionnaire during a April 2, 2025 retrial at Read in Norfolk Chore Court in Dedham, Massachusetts.
While Red's attorneys will be allowed to file a replacement suspect, the shell ruled that they could not blame a person who pointed at the finger in the first trial, citing insufficient evidence.
“It will certainly be different in terms of execution, how both parties implement their strategies, but the basic narrative will be the same,” said Daniel Medwed, a professor of law and criminal justice at Northeastern University.
The prosecutor's witness list includes many who testified during the first trial, as well as the father of new witness Reid. Both the prosecution and the Defense Force have added rosters.
Hank Brennan, a private defense attorney representing James'Whitey'Bulger, was hired as a special prosecutor by the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office to try the case. Former Chief Prosecutors Adam Lally and Laura McLaughlin will assist him.
A policeman died in the snow: Why Karen Read’s Trial Is a Real Crime Obsession
The defense added two lawyers: Robert Alessi and Victoria George, a former replacement juror at Read's first trial. David Yannetti, Elizabeth Little and Alan Jackson, representing Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey, also remained on Read's team.
Read to face improper death lawsuits
After Read's second murder trial ends, she will have to face a civil lawsuit filed by O'Keefe's real estate and its representative, his brother.
Read's lawyer filed a lawsuit until the criminal case is resolved. William White Jr.
Contributions: Christopher Cann, Karissa Waddick and Phaedra Trethan, USA Today; Peter Blandino, Jessica Trufant and David R. Smith, Patriots ledger
This article originally appeared in the opening statement of the United States Today: Karen Red’s second murder trial
