Defense Rests in Karen Read Murder Retrial Massachusetts

In the retrial of Karen Read, accused of murdering her boyfriend John O’Keefe by striking him with her Lexus SUV and leaving him in a blizzard, the defense rested its case after presenting biomechanical and crash reconstruction expert Andrew Rentschler, who challenged the prosecution’s theory about the cause of O’Keefe’s fatal injuries. Dr. Elizabeth Laposata, a former chief medical examiner, testified that O’Keefe’s skull fracture was caused by blunt force trauma inconsistent with a simple fall and that his injuries likely caused death within 20 minutes, dismissing hypothermia as a contributing factor. The defense alleges a police conspiracy to frame Read, citing evidence of prior beating and animal bites on O’Keefe and disputing the prosecution’s narrative. The prosecution is expected to call rebuttal witnesses before closing arguments. The high-profile trial has drawn significant media attention, which some analysts suggest may influence retail investor sentiment and trading volumes in volatile markets such as cryptocurrency. However, the trial itself remains focused on the conflicting forensic interpretations of O’Keefe’s injuries and the circumstances surrounding his death.