Adrian
The retrial of KAREN READ on murder charges in the death of her boyfriend, JOHN O’KEEFE, took a dramatic turn Friday as prosecutors and defense attorneys focused on whether O’Keefe was alive to hear Read’s last words before his death on January 29, 2022. The case centers on the argument that Read allegedly had with O’Keefe before he was found dead outside another officer’s home in Canton, Massachusetts.
Prosecutors allege that Read, intoxicated and angry, intentionally struck O’Keefe with her Lexus SUV and left him to die during a snowstorm. She has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, manslaughter, and fleeing the scene, while her defense maintains she never struck him at all.
During Friday’s proceedings, the testimony of Canton firefighter and paramedic JASON BECKER became a focal point. Becker, who responded to the scene alongside his partner, DANIEL WHITELY, testified that Read mentioned having an argument with her boyfriend during the ambulance ride. However, Becker admitted he did not ask for further details about the argument, believing his primary role was to provide medical support and ensure Read’s safety.
“We didn’t think we would be witnesses in a murder trial,” Becker stated. “We were there to support Karen and ultimately get her to the hospital safely.”
Special prosecutor HANK BRENNAN pressed Becker on why he didn’t seek more information about the argument, suggesting it could have been a critical piece of evidence. Meanwhile, Read’s defense attorney, ALAN JACKSON, argued that the argument referenced by Becker could have occurred earlier in the evening, rather than just before O’Keefe’s death.
“Did she ever say whether or not she believed he received her last words from her?” Jackson asked. Becker replied that Read did not provide additional details, though she attempted to show him missed calls she had made to O’Keefe.
Earlier in the trial, prosecutors played a clip from an interview in which Read admitted to spiking her own drinks with extra shots before leaving the Waterfall Bar and Grille in Canton around midnight. Forensic evidence presented Friday revealed that Read had a blood alcohol level of **.093%** when tested at the hospital the next morning.
Jurors were transported to the crime scene at 34 Fairview Road in Canton earlier in the day, where police had placed Read’s Lexus SUV to demonstrate the positioning of her vehicle and the broken taillight allegedly involved in the incident.
The case has drawn significant attention, with Read’s defense team maintaining her innocence and questioning the prosecution’s narrative. The trial, initially expected to last six to eight weeks, concluded its first week of testimony Friday.
WATCH: [Karen Read speaks to reporters at the end of the first week of her second trial](https://www.example.com)
WATCH: [Massachusetts state trooper reads texts between Karen Read and John O’Keefe](https://www.example.com)
Sources:
[https://www.example.com](https://www.example.com)
[https://www.example.com](https://www.example.com)
