Special Prosecutor Seeks to Limit Defense Strategy in Karen Read Retrial

In a last-minute filing on Friday, Special Prosecutor HANK BRENNAN requested the court to restrict KAREN READ’s defense team from attributing the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend, JOHN O’KEEFE, to fellow officers or a dog during opening statements in her upcoming retrial. The motion, filed just days before the trial’s commencement, argues that referencing injuries on O’Keefe’s right arm could violate a prior court order prohibiting third-party culpability claims without supporting evidence.

HANK BRENNAN, the specially appointed assistant district attorney, emphasized in the filing, “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.” He noted that the court had previously ruled against introducing third-party culprit claims without admissible evidence, deeming such references improper.

Prosecutors allege that O’Keefe died outside a Canton, Massachusetts, home on January 29, 2022, following an after-party attended by law enforcement colleagues and their spouses. KAREN READ is accused of striking O’Keefe with her Lexus SUV during a drunken argument and leaving the scene, where he was later found dead on the front lawn of fellow Boston Police Officer BRIAN ALBERT. Albert, who hosted the gathering, owned a German shepherd named Chloe.

O’Keefe’s cause of death was determined to be severe head trauma and hypothermia, though he also sustained injuries to his hands and right arm. The defense has sought to explore alternative theories, including dog bite injuries, with the court granting partial access to such testimony.

Judge BEVERLY CANNONE recently denied a prosecution motion to exclude a defense dog bite expert, DR. JAMES CROSBY, while limiting the scope of his testimony. Crosby is permitted to discuss dog bite analysis broadly but cannot exclude Chloe by name.

KAREN READ has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Her first trial ended in a mistrial due to a deadlocked jury last year. She is currently petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that partial, unannounced results should justify dropping two of the three charges against her.

Opening statements for the retrial are scheduled to begin on Tuesday.

[Sources: Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com), [True Crime Updates](https://www.foxnews.com/true-crime)