By USA Daily Now 
Judge BEVERLY CANNONE ruled on Tuesday to allow key defense experts to testify in the retrial of KAREN READ, who faces murder charges related to the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend, JOHN O’KEEFE. The decision came despite concerns raised by prosecutors regarding missing text messages between experts at ARCCA Crash Reconstruction and the defense counsel, as well as missed discovery deadlines.
Judge Cannone acknowledged the prosecution’s arguments, stating, “I understand completely the commonwealth’s argument, the ambush that has been set upon here. However, a defendant’s right to a fair trial is paramount to everything.” She permitted the ARCCA witnesses to testify and anticipated a robust cross-examination.
Special Prosecutor HANK BRENNAN criticized the extended timeline for finalizing the expert report, which is set for May 7, but Judge Cannone denied his motion to block the testimony.
The case stems from allegations that KAREN READ struck JOHN O’KEEFE with her Lexus during a snowstorm and fled the scene. She pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, manslaughter, and leaving the scene. The first trial ended in a mistrial with a hung jury in 2023.
JENNIFER MCCABE, a friend of O’Keefe’s, testified on Tuesday about her relationship with him and the events leading up to his death. She is expected to return to the stand on Wednesday.
Additionally, forensic expert IAN WHIFFIN testified about his analysis of location data from JOHN O’KEEFE‘s and JENNIFER MCCABE‘s phones. He suggested that O’Keefe could have been inside a residence at 34 Fairview Road during the early hours of January 29, 2022, based on the phone’s low-accuracy location data. WHIFFIN also addressed Search data discrepancies, explaining how a phone’s database could incorrectly timestamp a search.
The trial is expected to last several weeks, with ongoing testimony and expert analysis shaping the case’s narrative.
SOURCE: Reports compiled from court proceedings and expert testimonies.