The Karen Read retrial continued Thursday with tense testimony from an EMT, surveillance footage and testimony about the night of John O’Keefe’s death and a controversial media clip.The third day of testimony began with EMT Daniel Whitley returning to the stand. Defense attorney David Yannetti resumed his cross-examination, focusing on Read’s behavior at the hospital after O’Keefe’s body was found. Whitley testified that Read refused to wear a hospital gown or provide a urine sample, which Yannetti suggested was due to her focus on seeing O’Keefe. The exchange grew tense as Yannetti pressed Whitley on inconsistencies in his previous testimonies, particularly regarding Read’s statements about O’Keefe’s conditionThe prosecution introduced several witnesses, including bar employees and friends of O’Keefe, to reconstruct the events leading up to his death. Brigid Meehan and Jean DeMulis testified about surveillance footage from the bars where Read and O’Keefe were seen drinking. Defense attorneys did not cross-examine these witnesses. Later, Mike Camerano, a close friend of O’Keefe, recounted the night they celebrated their daughters’ school acceptances. He described the evening as “normal” and noted that Read and O’Keefe appeared affectionate.Camerano also detailed the chaotic morning after O’Keefe’s death, including his interactions with Read and O’Keefe’s family.The day also featured a sidebar discussion about expert witnesses and the admissibility of a media clip showing Read imitating O’Keefe’s mother. The defense objected to the clip, arguing it portrayed Read in an unflattering light, but the judge allowed it. Read, 45, of Mansfield, a former adjunct professor at Bentley University, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and other charges.The prosecution says she hit her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, with her Lexus SUV outside of a home in Canton during a snowstorm on Jan. 29, 2022, following a night of drinking. Read’s attorneys again plan to pursue a third-party culprit defense strategy, arguing that someone else was responsible for killing O’Keefe and that Read is the victim of a law enforcement cover-up.Video: John O’Keefe’s mother testifies in second day of Read murder trialWhat to know about the case:Karen Read, 45, of Mansfield, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and other charges. The prosecution says she hit her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, with her vehicle outside of a home in Canton during a snowstorm on Jan. 29, 2022, following a night of drinking. Read’s defense team argues that someone else was responsible for killing O’Keefe.The defense centered on allegations of a cover-up involving members of several law enforcement agencies. They say O’Keefe was beaten inside the home, bitten by a dog and then left outside.Testimony in Read’s first trial began on April 29, 2024, following opening statements. It ended on July 1, when jurors reported being hopelessly deadlocked, and a mistrial was declared.Read’s team vowed to keep fighting, and her defense has waged a considerable battle across multiple courts, attempting to get charges dropped or have the case thrown out entirely. Meanwhile, a federal investigation into the case concluded without any charges being filed against police.Ultimately, jury selection for Read’s retrial began on April 1 and continued through April 15. Eighteen jurors were selected, and 12 of them will deliberate on the verdicts. Alternates will be selected and separated from the deliberating jurors before deliberations begin. Video below: Prosecution’s opening statementVideo below: Defense’s opening statement

The Karen Read retrial continued Thursday with tense testimony from an EMT, surveillance footage and testimony about the night of John O’Keefe’s death and a controversial media clip.

The third day of testimony began with EMT Daniel Whitley returning to the stand. Defense attorney David Yannetti resumed his cross-examination, focusing on Read’s behavior at the hospital after O’Keefe’s body was found.

Whitley testified that Read refused to wear a hospital gown or provide a urine sample, which Yannetti suggested was due to her focus on seeing O’Keefe.

The exchange grew tense as Yannetti pressed Whitley on inconsistencies in his previous testimonies, particularly regarding Read’s statements about O’Keefe’s condition

The prosecution introduced several witnesses, including bar employees and friends of O’Keefe, to reconstruct the events leading up to his death. Brigid Meehan and Jean DeMulis testified about surveillance footage from the bars where Read and O’Keefe were seen drinking. Defense attorneys did not cross-examine these witnesses.

Later, Mike Camerano, a close friend of O’Keefe, recounted the night they celebrated their daughters’ school acceptances. He described the evening as “normal” and noted that Read and O’Keefe appeared affectionate.

Camerano also detailed the chaotic morning after O’Keefe’s death, including his interactions with Read and O’Keefe’s family.

The day also featured a sidebar discussion about expert witnesses and the admissibility of a media clip showing Read imitating O’Keefe’s mother. The defense objected to the clip, arguing it portrayed Read in an unflattering light, but the judge allowed it.

Read, 45, of Mansfield, a former adjunct professor at Bentley University, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and other charges.

The prosecution says she hit her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, with her Lexus SUV outside of a home in Canton during a snowstorm on Jan. 29, 2022, following a night of drinking. Read’s attorneys again plan to pursue a third-party culprit defense strategy, arguing that someone else was responsible for killing O’Keefe and that Read is the victim of a law enforcement cover-up.

Video: John O’Keefe’s mother testifies in second day of Read murder trial

What to know about the case:

Karen Read, 45, of Mansfield, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and other charges. The prosecution says she hit her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, with her vehicle outside of a home in Canton during a snowstorm on Jan. 29, 2022, following a night of drinking.

Read’s defense team argues that someone else was responsible for killing O’Keefe.

The defense centered on allegations of a cover-up involving members of several law enforcement agencies. They say O’Keefe was beaten inside the home, bitten by a dog and then left outside.

Testimony in Read’s first trial began on April 29, 2024, following opening statements. It ended on July 1, when jurors reported being hopelessly deadlocked, and a mistrial was declared.

Read’s team vowed to keep fighting, and her defense has waged a considerable battle across multiple courts, attempting to get charges dropped or have the case thrown out entirely. Meanwhile, a federal investigation into the case concluded without any charges being filed against police.

Ultimately, jury selection for Read’s retrial began on April 1 and continued through April 15. Eighteen jurors were selected, and 12 of them will deliberate on the verdicts. Alternates will be selected and separated from the deliberating jurors before deliberations begin.

Video below: Prosecution’s opening statement

Video below: Defense’s opening statement