Brade
In a last-minute legal maneuver, Special Prosecutor HANK BRENNAN has requested the court to restrict the defense in the retrial of KAREN READ, who is accused of killing her Boston police officer boyfriend, JOHN O’KEEFE. Filed Friday, the motion aims to prevent the defense from attributing O’Keefe’s injuries to fellow police officers or their dog during opening statements scheduled for next week.
HANK BRENNAN, a specially appointed assistant district attorney, argued that the defense’s plan to present photos of injuries to O’Keefe’s right arm could violate a prior court order. The motion stated, “The Commonwealth moves for an order that defense counsel refrain from claiming in their opening statement that any of the victim’s injuries were caused by any person or animal that was inside the home at 34 Fairview Road.”
The prosecution emphasized that the court has already ruled against allowing third-party culprit claims without admissible evidence. “Any mention of third-party culprit claims relative to the abrasions would be improper,” the motion added.
The case stems from the death of JOHN O’KEEFE, who was found dead on the front lawn of BRIAN ALBERT, a fellow Boston police officer, in Canton, Massachusetts, on January 29, 2022. Prosecutors allege that KAREN READ struck O’Keefe with her Lexus SUV during a drunken argument and left the scene. BRIAN ALBERT owned a German shepherd named Chloe, which has been a point of contention in the case.
O’Keefe’s cause of death was determined to be severe head trauma and hypothermia, with additional injuries to his hands and right arm. The motion follows Judge BEVERLY CANNONE’s recent decision to allow testimony from a defense expert on dog bites while limiting the scope of a prosecution expert’s testimony.
DR. JAMES CROSBY, the prosecution’s expert, will be permitted to testify broadly about dog bites but is barred from naming Chloe specifically. This ruling comes as the retrial prepares to commence, with opening statements expected to begin Tuesday.
KAREN READ, who pleaded not guilty, previously faced a deadlocked jury in her first trial last year. She has since petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to dismiss two of the three charges against her, citing partial, unannounced trial results.
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Sources:
[Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com)
[Courtside Updates](https://www.foxnews.com/true-crime)
