MA - Professor Karen Read, 43, charged with murdering police officer boyfriend John O'Keefe by hitting him with car, Canton, 14 Apr 2023 #34 Retrial

[LaineyJ]

Just finished watching on catch up. I thought Rentschler came across as an absolute sleazeball to be honest (and his opening good guy gambit with his birthday shoutout to his kid is one of the real moral low points of this trial).

Nothing has really changed my overall view that this case is destined to be another hung jury though.

That… THAT was one of the real moral low points?
Not judge’s clear bias despite her duty?
Not HB making “mistakes”?
Not the CW bringing this case for a second time despite having basically no case (when considering lack of: properly handled evidence, professional, reliable witnesses, evidence of a collision… etc)?
Not literally most of anything done by the CW or in its favor has shown to be the actual moral low points of the trial?

eta jmo

 

[Oakland CA]

I'm sure there has been worse but I've never seen a high profile case prosecuted so badly.
The CW only has themselves to blame in having Brennan try this.
Well that, plus the excellent job by the defense (mainly Jackson)

I don't see it taking longer than an hour or two for the jury to find the defendant NOT GUILTY.

The big losers here are the decedent's family. My heart goes out to them as it's clear that much of the Canton P.D. should've been on trial, and not Read. They will likely never see justice for John.

My take/scorecard on the main players:

Prosecutor Brennan was completely out of his league and overmatched. Almost all of his witnesses helped the defense's case, 2/10

Alessi was great, did everything asked of him, and more. 7/10

Defense lawyer Jackson made a believer out of me. I had my doubts at first but he turned this case on it's head, as my original belief was she was guilty.
That changed to probably guilty but with too much reasonable doubt to convict.
By the time the defense had cross examined most of the prosecution witnesses it was clear there was some sort of cover up of some kind by the Canton P.D. and Read was not the killer. 9/10

Judge Cannone definitely showed a bias in favour of the crown. Not impressed. 3/10

Pathologist Laposata gets my vote as the most honest and believable witness to testify 8/10

Detective Bukhenik was the worst,. The defense should put him on their Christmas card list 2/10

Defendant Read never took the stand. Smart move.
All I can say about her, other than now thinking she is clearly NOT GUILTY, is that my opinion never changed from start to finish. My advice would be to anyone who is thinking about starting a relationship with her is RUN, RUN FAST in the opposite direction.

 

[HarmonyE.]

Just finished watching on catch up. I thought Rentschler came across as an absolute sleazeball to be honest (and his opening good guy gambit with his birthday shoutout to his kid is one of the real moral low points of this trial).

Immoral?

Did he lie about getting his BS degree? I thought it just said happy birthday to his kid. Odd, but hardly Aperture level "BS".

 

[Mony Mony]

Ok, so I watched the first trial and came away feeling she likely did hit him.

I have changed my mind. I now think she is innocent. IMO, the car didn’t hit him.

 

[MrB327]

I'm sure there has been worse but I've never seen a high profile case prosecuted so badly.
The CW only has themselves to blame in having Brennan try this.
Well that, plus the excellent job by the defense (mainly Jackson)

I don't see it taking longer than an hour or two for the jury to find the defendant NOT GUILTY.

The big losers here are the decedent's family. My heart goes out to them as it's clear that much of the Canton P.D. should've been on trial, and not Read. They will likely never see justice for John.

My take/scorecard on the main players:

Prosecutor Brennan was completely out of his league and overmatched. Almost all of his witnesses helped the defense's case, 2/10

Alessi was great, did everything asked of him, and more. 7/10

Defense lawyer Jackson made a believer out of me. I had my doubts at first but he turned this case on it's head, as my original belief was she was guilty.
That changed to probably guilty but with too much reasonable doubt to convict.
By the time the defense had cross examined most of the prosecution witnesses it was clear there was some sort of cover up of some kind by the Canton P.D. and Read was not the killer. 9/10

Judge Cannone definitely showed a bias in favour of the crown. Not impressed. 3/10

Pathologist Laposata gets my vote as the most honest and believable witness to testify 8/10

Detective Bukhenik was the worst,. The defense should put him on their Christmas card list 2/10

Defendant Read never took the stand. Smart move.
All I can say about her, other than now thinking she is clearly NOT GUILTY, is that my opinion never changed from start to finish. My advice would be to anyone who is thinking about starting a relationship with her is RUN, RUN FAST in the opposite direction.

If the Lexus didn't hit, you must acquit...

 

[AngTxGal]

Right - it's a circumstantial case where the broad sweep of evidence is highly incriminating.

It's not seriously denied anymore that Karen drove 24mph in reverse or seriously contended she broke her tail light at 1 meadows.

The defence wants to engage in a form of circular reasoning whereby one can assume the ultimate answer (no collision) and thus sweep aside all the circumstantial evidence to the contrary. The basis for this is a bunch of people they hired to say it.

Rentschler for me is by far the best defence witness. But he is severely hindered because Wolfe already demonstrated an accident that looks a lot like the one alleged. Is it exactly the same? Or course not - because we can never know all those variables.

IMO

I thought the story sounded logical, until I heard the description of the taillight being broken and causing those wounds on JOK’s arm.

There is no world where KR hit JOK’s arm with her car, breaking her taillight and causing those wounds on his arm. Not possible

If this is the story the Prosecution is putting forward, which they are…

Their Story has more resonable doubt than evidence.

This case should not have gone to trial.
Now, let’s hope the jury agrees so JOK’s family can move toward finding out what actually happened to him.
I cannot imagine his family sitting there listening to this expert evidence and not realizing-
He was NOT hit by her car.

What broke her taillight?
Where did he hit his head?
What animal attacked his arm?

Answering those questions would be justice.

Now a lot of people in that community of Canton, MA need to search their conscious re KR.
They may or may not be ok paying $$ to Welcher for his ‘expert’ testimony
How are they going to feel when KR wins a civil suit against Norfolk County!? Or whoever she sues?
How much is THAT civil case going to set them back in tax dollars??

IMO

 

[bobbymkii]

If the Lexus didn't hit, you must acquit...

If the dog bit, you must acquit!
If the taillight was planted, acquittal must be granted!


keep it going!

 

[Amber29]

Ok, so I watched the first trial and came away feeling she likely did hit him.

I have changed my mind. I now think she is innocent. IMO, the car didn’t hit him.

I think that is really the point they hammered it home this trial compared to the last. They concentrated less on the other things and just had numerous phd/md experts to say “he wasn’t hit by a car.”

ETA mistake

 

[HarmonyE.]

I think that is really the point they nailed home this trial compared to the last. They concentrated less on the other things and just had numerous phd/md experts to say “he wasn’t hit by a car.”

The last trial was more muddled for sure. But that wasn't really all the fault of the defense.

Lally draaaaaaged those days out calling half the population of Canton, droning on and on about the snow, the high top tables at the Waterfall, and girls' basketball game score. What, if anything, did this accomplish? It forced the defense to cross examine everyone he called and by the time the jury got the case, memories had likely faded and there was a confusing amount of extraneous information for them to sort through. And probably argue about.

This time the defense was able to keep the focus where it belonged - reasonable doubt. And I think this jury is gonna see tons of that.

 

[kae27]

I think that is really the point they hammered it home this trial compared to the last. They concentrated less on the other things and just had numerous phd/md experts to say “he wasn’t hit by a car.”

ETA mistake

Agree with you. In the first trial, I actually think they were so confident in an acquittal (as were many here) that they didn't offer much in their defense. They learned that lesson in this trial and focused on the basics - was he hit by a car? Fewer worries about impeaching the credibility of the non-scientific, non-medical, or non-expert witnesses, or getting bogged down in key cycles or the like, and more focus on that basic question.

 

[HanniBJeter]

Just finished watching on catch up. I thought Rentschler came across as an absolute sleazeball to be honest (and his opening good guy gambit with his birthday shoutout to his kid is one of the real moral low points of this trial).

Nothing has really changed my overall view that this case is destined to be another hung jury though.

That’s your definition of a moral low point? Whoooo boy. How about Brennan disclosing how JOK’s brother in law died? How about Brennan asking Dr Wolfe about his wife? Of all the awful things that have happened in this case, Dr R doesn’t even make the list.

 

[AngTxGal]

What kind of ham? Was it Polish Ham? Brown Sugar ham? Spiced ham? Was it lo-cal or low sodium? What kind of bread was used? Toasted or untoasted? Was it cut in triagles or squares? What kind of condiments were used? Lettuce? Tomato? ONION??? Did you have a side of chips and if so what kind? How did it taste? Did you eat the whole thing there, or get a to-go box?

Oh my I laughed so hard!

What kind of onion are you certain, was it white, yellow, purple, pearl, sliced, minced, fried, pickled, rings, or maybe could it have been the little dehydrated one’s on McDonald’s burgers?

IMO, LMAO

 

[missy1974]

Defense lawyer Jackson made a believer out of me. I had my doubts at first but he turned this case on it's head, as my original belief was she was guilty.
That changed to probably guilty but with too much reasonable doubt to convict.
By the time the defense had cross examined most of the prosecution witnesses it was clear there was some sort of cover up of some kind by the Canton P.D. and Read was not the killer. 9/10


Pathologist Laposata gets my vote as the most honest and believable witness to testify 8/10

Detective Bukhenik was the worst,. The defense should put him on their Christmas card list 2/10

RSBM

I am reading a lot that people have changed their mind about her guilt just the last couple of days. I'm not sure if that is Jackson's doing, or Dr. L and ARCCA? I also don't know if random comments on s.m. is real or not so I take it with a grain of salt lol

Laposata was definitely the best witness!

Bukhenik and Welcher would be tied for me for the worst

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

 

[missy1974]

Ok, so I watched the first trial and came away feeling she likely did hit him.

I have changed my mind. I now think she is innocent. IMO, the car didn’t hit him.

oh wow.. ok.. so read my last comment haha

Is it because of ARCCA and Dr. Laposata?

 

[themonk]

Brennan's performance today was so detrimental to the CW's case I have to wonder if he was replaced by some kind of bizarro cyborg Brennan intent on torpedoing the CW’s case.

 

[missy1974]

The last trial was more muddled for sure. But that wasn't really all the fault of the defense.

Lally draaaaaaged those days out calling half the population of Canton, droning on and on about the snow, the high top tables at the Waterfall, and girls' basketball game score. What, if anything, did this accomplish? It forced the defense to cross examine everyone he called and by the time the jury got the case, memories had likely faded and there was a confusing amount of extraneous information for them to sort through. And probably argue about.

This time the defense was able to keep the focus where it belonged - reasonable doubt. And I think this jury is gonna see tons of that.

And the defense was able to benefit from almost every CW witness too.

They were focused on getting the information they needed from each of them, which meant they didn't have to call more witnesses, why bother if you have what you need on the record?

JMO

 

[HarmonyE.]

Brennan's performance today was so detrimental to the CW's case I have to wonder if he was replaced by some kind of bizarro cyborg Brennan intent on torpedoing the CW’s case.

The Lawyer You Know said it seemed Brennan had given up by the time they got to the last witness, and didn't care how he was coming off.

And I suspect he was "coming off" as his usual, everyday self.

Seriously, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with all of those unlimited resources, he was the best you could do?

 

[AngTxGal]

Just finished watching on catch up. I thought Rentschler came across as an absolute sleazeball to be honest (and his opening good guy gambit with his birthday shoutout to his kid is one of the real moral low points of this trial).

Nothing has really changed my overall view that this case is destined to be another hung jury though.

This expert testimony will likely be what keeps an innocent woman from going to prison.
Of course he got paid for his time, he absolutely may be quite full of himself, but my guess is KR is going to forgive his classless Happy B-Day at her trial- if she is found Not Guity.

Sometimes the smartest cockiest most full of himself SOB is exactly who you need on your side.
If it was me- I’d want this guy! As I know one thing for sure- zero of the engineers I’ve ever worked with, taught with, had in my family were mild mannered, humble, and relaxed.
My father, brother, and husband are engineers… and I have three cousins who are also engineers.
They are a type- and all of them fit it.

Civil, mechanical, electrical, aeronautical, nuclear, and petroleum… think about that.
Our lives would be VERY different without these full of themselves, meticulous, cocky, type A, inflexible, intense personalities and minds. And I dearly love three of them!

IMO

 

[AngTxGal]

RSBM

I am reading a lot that people have changed their mind about her guilt just the last couple of days. I'm not sure if that is Jackson's doing, or Dr. L and ARCCA? I also don't know if random comments on s.m. is real or not so I take it with a grain of salt lol

Laposata was definitely the best witness!

Bukhenik and Welcher would be tied for me for the worst

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

I would be curious as to how many in the Albert family made reservations today on a flight out of the country…

You wanna bet at least two!?

IMO

 

[missy1974]

This expert testimony will likely be what keeps an innocent woman from going to prison.
Of course he got paid for his time, he absolutely may be quite full of himself, but my guess is KR is going to forgive his classless Happy B-Day at her trial- if she is found Not Guity.

Sometimes the smartest cockiest most full of himself SOB is exactly who you need on your side.
If it was me- I’d want this guy! As I know one thing for sure- zero of the engineers I’ve ever worked with, taught with, had in my family were mild mannered, humble, and relaxed.
My father, brother, and husband are engineers… and I have three cousins who are also engineers.
They are a type- and all of them fit it.

Civil, mechanical, electrical, aeronautical, nuclear, and petroleum… think about that.
Our lives would be VERY different without these full of themselves, meticulous, cocky, type A, inflexible, intense personalities and minds. And I dearly love three of them!

IMO

I am a hockey fan... so Dr. R had me at .. 'we work with the NHL'.

The fact they work with the US Military to make vehicles safer helped too