MA - Professor Karen Read, 43, charged with murdering police officer boyfriend John O'Keefe by hitting him with car, Canton, 14 Apr 2023 #32 Retrial

[Elliot_Alderson]

BIB. Together with the debris field this seems like a huge own goal. What on earth was AJ thinking?

MOO

Not really. It shows that the taillight doesn't shatter into 500 pieces. Conveniently ignored though. JMO

 

[jepop]

I am behind. Just heard Brennan say "you don't like that question?" to Dr. Wolfe. WTH?!? If i was a jury member that would have been soooo off putting.

Yeah he did it a number of times. Stand out Brennan. Cannone had it struck the first time ( colour me surprised) but Brennan repeated it anyway.

 

[tara83]

BIB. Together with the debris field this seems like a huge own goal. What on earth was AJ thinking?

MOO

Can you show me all those cases where an arm broke a taillight into 47 pieces?

 

[lohrtabitha]

Clearing a foot and a half of snow off your car in a blizzard at the end of a double shift is something most people would remember. It's grounded in time and place. She experienced it herself; it isn't like recalling when you may have seen something on security camera a year and a half later.

A reasonable person in Dever's position would be concerned that the defense timeline meant her memory was suspect. They'd verify when the Lexus arrived at Canton PD and check work records to confirm what time their shift ended before calling the federal agents to recant.

The defense knew Dever recanted her inaccurate statement since it at least April 2024. They could have obtained security video footage from inside and outside Canton PD to check when she left. They did it with other witnesses. If they believed she recanted falsely, proving it would be pivotal to their case that Karen was framed. They'd be derelict if they didn't review it. I think the defense attorneys are diligent. Therefore, I think they've reviewed the work records and video footage and confirmed Dever left before the Lexus arrived.

Disagree. IMO she knows and remembers everything. Just one more lying Canton cop. I think that's what the Defense showed . Oh and they made her so mad, she said 3 beautiful words to the jurors ears : F.B.I.

 

[Anniesflowers]

I believe they think, probably because of her toxic phone messages, that KR knew, at the moment she left, that she'd hit JO. I'm willing to think, being as angry and intoxicated as she was, that KR didn't really started to think oh my God I hit until

No

That doesn’t make any sense to me, imo. If I knew that I hit my bf in a drunken stupor, the last thing I’d do is leave nasty messages. KK, who was completely sober, was with her for the last hour they were at the Waterfall and said KR didn’t not appear intoxicated. IMO.

 

[Wishbone]

KR shared her view of dever's testimony

Outside of court on Monday afternoon, Read had her own thoughts about Dever’s testimony.

“Are you suggesting that Dever may have been coaxed into changing her testimony?” Boston 25 News Investigative Reporter Ted Daniel asked.

“Yes,” Read responded. “When she was called into the commissioner’s office, the story was completely changed. It was recanted.”

Did ex-Canton cop change her story after meeting with BPD commissioner? Karen Read thinks so

A former Canton police officer who was working dispatch on the night when John O’Keefe died was combative on the witness stand on Monday.

www.boston25news.com

 

[AngTxGal]

I thought Brennan made some valid points, such as the spinning of Randy's right foot and possibly the weight differential. He did his homework. Still, I don't think it's enough to counter the expertise of Dr Wolfe's testimony and presentation. MOO

I think Brennan’s trying to make points with monotone monotonous gray drab smoke screens!!

It is like asking- ( in Brennan’s voice) So the car was black… but you used a silver car. Don’t you think the color of the car could have made a difference?
Wolfe tries to explain that the color of the car doesnt’ matter.
But… don’t you think it would be more accurate if you used the same color of car?
Wolfe tries to explain that the color of the car doesnt’ matter.
And you kept the color of the car you used from your report? Why did you do that?
Wolfe tries to explain that car color doesn’t matter.
But… if you used a red car then it could make a difference because it is a brighter color. Don’t you think red is a brighter color?
Yes.
Then why did you choose to use a silver car, if red is a brighter color? Don’t you think a brighter color woudl make a difference?

For crying out loud…

It is nonsense, IMO Brennan is insufferable and Wolfe was patient as saint!

 

[acutename]

I think Brennan’s trying to make points with monotone monotonous gray drab smoke screens!!

It is like asking- ( in Brennan’s voice) So the car was black… but you used a silver car. Don’t you think the color of the car could have made a difference?
Wolfe tries to explain that the color of the car doesnt’ matter.
But… don’t you think it would be more accurate if you used the same color of car?
Wolfe tries to explain that the color of the car doesnt’ matter.
And you keep the color of the car from the jury, why did you do that?
Wolfe tries to explain that car color doesn’t matter.
But… if you used a red car then it could make a difference because it is a brighter color. Don’t you think red is a brighter color?
Yes.
Then why did you choose to use a silver car, if red is a brighter color?

It is nonsense, IMO Brennan is insufferable and Wolfe was patient as saint!

am pretty sure that defense attys warn the witnesses that they will be subjected to these tactics

 

[Amber29]

I personally do not see how a jury could possibly convict on a murder charge in this case. The police and the lack of a proper investigation is the reason there is so much reasonable doubt. Had the police performed an unbiased investigation by bringing all the house guests in for formal recorded questioning/statements and officially cleared them of having an involvement, the door wouldn’t even be open for the defense to walk through. Instead MP IMO manipulated evidence to try and improve the case against KR, whom he clearly was convinced was guilty. Sadly the police in trying to protect their own in a way, may cost a conviction and any real justice for JOK. I don’t see how we will ever know what exactly happened that night because the CW absolutely has not proven he was hit by KRs SUV.

 

[jepop]

BIB. Together with the debris field this seems like a huge own goal. What on earth was AJ thinking?

MOO

Not at all. I think you missed the salient points in the testimony and the experiments Rentschler is the other half of the coin by the way. I think you missed that being established in direct.

In the meantime I think you missed the state of the dummy's body after arm impacted at higher speeds . A human body would be no different just more bloody with road rash, bruising and numerous injuries not seen on JOK. Also you missed the testimony that it is physically impossible for the tail light pieces to travel faster than the arm and pierce the clothing or land on the clothing, let alone bite and scratch the arm under the clothing leaving patterned symmetrical parallel lines.
Moo

 

[waldojabba]

I understand how you can be interpret it as changing testimony after being pressured by her current chief given the sequence in your post.

Do you know when the BPD chief met with Dever? From my understanding, it was only this spring after the defense called her to testify in Trial 2, long after she recanted to the FBI.

The sequence as I understand it is:

• August 2023--the FBI interviewed Dever, a year and a half after the January 29 day shift.
• Dever told them she recalled Higgins and Berkowitz talking in the sallyport by Karen's vehicle that day.
• Subsequently, the defense timeline established the Lexus arrived in Canton around 5:30.
• Dever realized the her memory of Higgins and Berkowitz with the Lexus that day could not be accurate.
• Dever contacted the FBI and recanted the false memory.

• April 2024--the defense contacted Dever.
• The defense was already aware she'd recanted her initial statement to the FBI and why.
• After the meeting, Dever emailed the FBI concerned by an attorney's reference to perjury.
• The FBI assured her perjury did not apply.
• The defense choose not call her in Trial 1.

• Spring 2025--the defense sent Dever a summons to testify in Trial 2.
• The Boston police chief requested to meet with after she was called by the defense.
• The chief expressed support for his officer and advised her to tell the truth.

The insinuation that Dever changed her testimony due to pressure is unsupported by evidence before the jury. She recanted to the FBI long ago, prompted by the defense's timeline. She did not testify in the first trial. She had no contact with either side after April 2024. Only after she was summonsed this spring for this trial did her current chief met with her.

The prosecution could have asked Dever if she was aware of or influenced by John's family having "Cop Killers!" screamed at them outside court or being stalked at the gravesite or the vilification of first responders. But it wasn't necessary.

Debating whether Dever felt pressure from either side is beside the point; the issue is cut and dry. The time she left the Canton PD is easily verifiable. The defense called her as their witness. They did not present evidence she was lying about when she left. If footage showed she was still at Canton PD when the Lexus arrived, they would have presented it.



The defense called Dever as their witness in this trial.

I think she made a great witness for the Defense.
You dont go to the fbi after they call you in and make up such a detailed acount if it did not happen. They warn you about lying.
She is not saying I got the days mixed up. She was specific about the lexus, that BH was at the party, that Berky was there - she did not make it up and its no false memory..
Thats my take
Everybody sees it differently and nobody has to live with Dever's choices but Dever

We just heard from ARCCA there was no collision and John was not hit by the Lexus.

As they say in court :
"God save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts"

JMO

 

[louvillian08]

KR shared her view of dever's testimony

Outside of court on Monday afternoon, Read had her own thoughts about Dever’s testimony.

“Are you suggesting that Dever may have been coaxed into changing her testimony?” Boston 25 News Investigative Reporter Ted Daniel asked.

“Yes,” Read responded. “When she was called into the commissioner’s office, the story was completely changed. It was recanted.”

Did ex-Canton cop change her story after meeting with BPD commissioner? Karen Read thinks so

A former Canton police officer who was working dispatch on the night when John O’Keefe died was combative on the witness stand on Monday.

www.boston25news.com

Remember the FBI document dump from spring 2024? That’s when the defense contacted her for the first time, after reading what she told the FBI. Despite other comments in this thread, we know she hadn’t changed her story yet.

 

[waldojabba]

How is that even allowed?

Because we are witnessing a travesty of justice - it was appalling watching Brennan get away with his tactics and questioning.
JMO

 

[Bethlamb16]

I personally do not see how a jury could possibly convict on a murder charge in this case. The police and the lack of a proper investigation is the reason there is so much reasonable doubt. Had the police performed an unbiased investigation by bringing all the house guests in for formal recorded questioning/statements and officially cleared them of having an involvement, the door wouldn’t even be open for the defense to walk through. Instead MP IMO manipulated evidence to try and improve the case against KR, whom he clearly was convinced was guilty. Sadly the police in trying to protect their own in a way, may cost a conviction and any real justice for JOK. I don’t see how we will ever know what exactly happened that night because the CW absolutely has not proven he was hit by KRs SUV.

I feel like if I was on the jury and at the end am told that I need to find guilt on him being hit and killed by a car, I would be like was I in a totally different trial because nowhere was proof given that he was hit by a car but deinitely no proof that a car even caused his death. I would be so stumped why they took 6 to 8 weeks for a trial that offers no proof. All IMO!

 

[Forest_Wood]

I personally do not see how a jury could possibly convict on a murder charge in this case. The police and the lack of a proper investigation is the reason there is so much reasonable doubt. Had the police performed an unbiased investigation by bringing all the house guests in for formal recorded questioning/statements and officially cleared them of having an involvement, the door wouldn’t even be open for the defense to walk through. Instead MP IMO manipulated evidence to try and improve the case against KR, whom he clearly was convinced was guilty. Sadly the police in trying to protect their own in a way, may cost a conviction and any real justice for JOK. I don’t see how we will ever know what exactly happened that night because the CW absolutely has not proven he was hit by KRs SUV.

I agree. The verdict for any of the charges will need to be NG based on the evidence. I could see at least one defiant juror holding out though, resulting in another mistrial.
MOO

 

[sunshineray]

OK, then it's a baseless one IMO

No more or less than anyone else's. The jury will decide

 

[Anniesflowers]

BIB. Together with the debris field this seems like a huge own goal. What on earth was AJ thinking?

MOO

IMO, I’m still wondering HOW all of those taillight shards made it to 34 Fairview when Sgt. Barros saw the vehicle in Dighton as it was being towed from her parents’ home. He said there was a small, 6” x 2” piece missing. The video played in court showed that KR’s taillight was mostly intact at the time it was removed to travel to Canton.

 

[mzmarymac]

My concern with the jury is this. I can imagine that even if they acknowledged that there was some reasonable doubt established, some may opt for a compromised verdict of convicting her on at leaser one count simply because she was drunk and driving and that there was a possibility she hit him. But I don't see how 12 jurors could possibly agree that there isn't at least reasonable doubt in this case on all counts. Remember that all 3 counts rest on the fact that the CW establishes she hit him BARD.

 

[kuromiiiilove]

Dever was a patrol officer for Canton PD. She worked the overnight shift on patrol, as she usually. She was asked to stay on for the day shift to cover the desk, and she showed her willingness to be part of the team by doing so. Her double shift ended at 3:45.

The time Dever left the parking lot was captured by Canton PD security cameras; the defense obtained other videos of the parking lot at Canton PD. They could have and most likely did obtain footage of Dever leaving. Why did the defense decide not to present the video footage that would confirm or contradict Dever's testimony. If it established Dever was at Canton PD when the Lexus arrived, they surely would have presented timestamped video to the jury. IMO,

To apply that logic equally, why did the CW not pull that footage to prove that Devers couldn’t have seen what she told the FBI?

The reality is that we do not know that that video exists still. MOO

 

[Amber29]

I would also love a list of objections today by CW and defense and the responses from the judge for comparison sakes.She was incredibly biased today imo. Often with her “I’ll allow it” “ask a different way” and just sustained responses. It was very evident today IMO