Testimony continued Tuesday in Dedham, Massachusetts in the murder trial of Karen Read, a 44-year-old woman from Mansfield accused of hitting her boyfriend with an SUV, leaving him to die in a snowstorm. Read has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and other charges. The prosecution alleges that she struck her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, with her black SUV outside a home in Canton on January 29, 2022, after a night of drinking. The defense, however, plans to argue that another individual is responsible for O’Keefe’s death.
During the trial, the defense continued its cross-examination of ATF Agent Brian Higgins, one of the three men implicated in O’Keefe’s death by Read’s defense lawyers. Attorney David Yannetti questioned Higgins about his cellphone and the data it contained. Higgins admitted to disposing of the SIM card in a trash bag at a military base, without transferring any data to his new phone. Text messages between Higgins and Read, including flirty exchanges, were also brought into question during the trial.
Witnesses testified that Read planted a kiss on Higgins at one point, indicating a romantic interest. Both sides presented conflicting narratives regarding the events leading up to O’Keefe’s death, with the defense claiming a cover-up and a third-party culprit. The trial revealed details of the investigation, including first responders’ efforts to save O’Keefe and the unusual procedures followed, such as collecting bloody snow and clearing the crime scene.
Overall, the trial provides a glimpse into a complex case of alleged murder, involving interpersonal relationships, text message exchanges, and conflicting accounts of the events that transpired on that fateful night. As the proceedings unfold, the jury will weigh the evidence presented by both the prosecution and the defense to determine the truth behind O’Keefe’s tragic death.