The upcoming witness testimony in Karen Read’s second murder trial has been postponed due to unexpected circumstances, as announced by a court spokesperson. The trial of the Massachusetts woman accused of assaulting her police officer boyfriend was set to continue into its 15th day, but was temporarily halted. The spokesperson, Jennifer Donahue, did not provide further details regarding the pause in court proceedings. Prosecutors had been preparing to present their next witness following the conclusion of Massachusetts State Trooper Yuri Bukhenik’s three-day testimony on May 12. Bukhenik informed the court that a broken taillight on Read’s vehicle had raised suspicions that she had struck her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, with her Lexus. He also mentioned an alleged statement from Read at the scene, where she reportedly confessed, “I hit him,” in reference to O’Keefe. This, coupled with the taillight evidence, formed the basis of the case against Read, according to Bukhenik. The prosecution asserts that Read intentionally struck O’Keefe in a fit of drunken rage, leaving him injured outside a colleague’s residence. In contrast, Read’s defense team claims she was framed for the murder and criticized the investigation for errors and bias. The ongoing legal proceedings have attracted widespread interest and support, prompting Judge Beverly Cannone to restrict demonstrations near the courthouse. The trial, which began on April 23, is anticipated to last between six to eight weeks, with additional witnesses expected to testify.
