Karen Read retrial begins amid emotional testimony from victim's mother

Karen Read is facing a second trial in Massachusetts for the alleged murder of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, after her first trial ended with a hung jury. Prosecutors accuse Read of striking O'Keefe with her SUV outside a fellow officer's home in January 2022 and leaving him to die in the snow, while Read maintains her innocence and claims she was framed, suggesting off-duty officers inside the house killed O’Keefe. The retrial, which began in April 2025, has drawn widespread attention and sparked debates about police conduct and investigative integrity. During the retrial, O'Keefe's mother, Peggy, testified emotionally about learning of her son's death and described her experiences at the hospital. The defense continues to challenge the prosecution's narrative, pointing to alleged errors and bias in the investigation. The trial is expected to last several weeks, with both sides presenting sharply contrasting accounts of the events.