Closing arguments in Karen Read case set to begin

DEDHAM, Mass. (WLNE) — After a Thursday meeting where Judge Beverly Cannone reviewed the language of jury instructions, the closing arguments in the murder retrial of Karen Read will begin on Friday.

Read has pled not guilty to second-degree murder, in addition to other charges, in connection with the death of John O’Keefe, her former boyfriend. Last year’s initial trial, which ended in a mistrial, grabbed national attention, as this one has.

According to Boston affiliate WCVB, Cannone ruled Thursday that Read’s defense team cannot argue a third-party culprit defense, in which the defense would argue that someone else killed John O’Keefe, saying that her defense has not put enough evidence forward to prove Read’s prior claim that Brian Albert and Brian Higgins were O’Keefe’s real killers.

Cannone will, however, allow for a Bowden defense, in which the defense can claim that the police investigation into the matter was inadequate.

Both the prosecution and the defense will have one hour and 15 minutes to make their closing arguments.