Attorney Describes ‘Embarrassing’ Moment With Karen Read Witness

A firefighter-paramedic took the stand during the opening day of Karen Read’s second trial in Norfolk Superior Court, where the Massachusetts woman is accused of killing her police officer boyfriend, John O’Keefe.

The high-profile retrial began Monday with both sides introducing drastically different narratives. Prosecutors claim Read committed a hit-and-run fueled by alcohol and rage, while the defense alleges a cover-up within law enforcement circles.

Why It Matters

Read’s case has drawn widespread public scrutiny, from local protests to social media obsession, in part because of claims of a police conspiracy and conflicting accounts of what happened the night O’Keefe died.

With her first trial ending in a mistrial after jurors couldn’t agree on all charges, the second attempt will test new strategies from prosecutors and the defense, including new attorneys and evidence presented under heightened scrutiny.

What To Know

The first witness, Canton firefighter and paramedic Timothy Nuttall, also testified during Read’s first trial. Defense attorney Alan Jackson recalled an “embarrassing” moment from Nuttall’s testimony in the first trial.

During the first trial, Nuttall described scratches on O’Keefe’s arm as “furrows.” Jackson said he did not understand the word because of Nuttall’s accent. When Jackson told Nuttall it was an “embarrassing” moment on Monday, Nuttall noted it was the case for both of them.

Nuttall testimony focused on what he observed when he cared for O’Keefe at the scene.

Read, 45, faces charges of second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death. Prosecutors allege she ran over O’Keefe with her Lexus SUV in January 2022 after dropping him off outside a friend’s house during a snowstorm. They argue she was intoxicated and angry, citing cellphone data, vehicle data and her own recorded statements as key evidence.

Nuttall testified that he found O’Keefe unresponsive and cold in the snow and remembered Read saying, “I hit him, I hit him, I hit him.” He said he remembered Read’s comments “very distinctly” during his testimony.

Jackson challenged this memory during cross-examination, highlighting that in the first trial, Nuttall testified that he had heard the phrase only twice. Jackson asked whether Nuttall believed those two statements were inconsistent.

“Yes sir,” Nuttall admitted.

In his opening remarks, Jackson told jurors that O’Keefe “did not die from being hit by a vehicle. Period.”

The defense has claimed that the injuries were more consistent with a dog attack or beating inside the home of Boston Police Officer Brian Albert, where O’Keefe was last seen alive.

He said the defense would present evidence supporting the claim that O’Keefe died inside the house and was moved outdoors. The defense alleges that the original police investigation ignored or actively suppressed this evidence.

The prosecution, led by special prosecutor Hank Brennan, presented an alternate version of events, saying that Read deliberately reversed into O’Keefe and left him to die in freezing temperatures. He said Read’s statements and pattern of cellphone usage demonstrated her intent.

“The evidence will make clear that she knew he was there. She did not call 911. … She left him,” Brennan told jurors.

What People Are Saying

Brennan, in his opening statement: “We are here today because John O’Keefe was killed by the actions and conduct of that defendant, Karen Read.”

Jackson, in his opening statement: “Dog rehomed, phones destroyed, house sold. You’ll learn that all these things happened shortly after the incident where John O’Keefe was found unresponsive and dying in Brian Albert’s front lawn.”

What Happens Next

The second trial is expected to last six to eight weeks, with 18 jurors seated after a lengthy selection process. Judge Beverly Cannone is aiming for full days of testimony, in contrast to the half-day sessions of the first trial. Key witnesses, including police investigators and several individuals present the night O’Keefe died, are expected to return to the stand.

Read also faces a pending wrongful death lawsuit filed by O’Keefe’s estate, though those proceedings are on hold until the criminal trial concludes.

Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.