Prosecutor, defense tell two different stories as Karen Read retrial opens

DEDHAM, Mass. (WLNE) — On Tuesday, the prosecution and defense laid out two different scenarios of how Boston police officer John O’Keefe was killed in 2022.

Prosecutors said defendant Karen Read hit O’Keefe with her SUV during a snowstorm in 2022 after a night out drinking, and left him to die in a blizzard.

Special prosecutor Hank Brennan began opening statements by describing where O’Keefe was found dead.

Then, Read’s defense team used its opening statements to describe her as the victim of a cover-up.

Her defense team argues that O’Keefe was attacked inside the house and later moved outside.

In a Dateline interview that the prosecution plans to air in court, Read was asked directly about what happened.

Matt Gutman: “Could you have been angry enough and slightly drunk, because he had annoyed you, that in a fit of rage you just backed up and,” asked host Matt Gutman.

“Never,” said Read.

The first witness called was paramedic Timothy Nuttall, who treated O’Keefe at the scene and said Read admitted she hit him with her car.

Read’s defense attorney Alan Jackson told jurors Read never said she hit him and that prosecutors are trying to twist her words.

The second witness called was Kerry Roberts, a friend of O’Keefe who testified that Read called her the day after and said “John’s dead.”

Witnesses will continue to be called this week. and ABC6 will bring you the latest details from the trial.