Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
DEDHAM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The jury in the Karen Read murder trial began hearing from witnesses after opening statements wrapped up on Monday.
Karen Read is accused of hitting her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, with her SUV and then leaving him for dead in the snow in Canton, Mass. in January of 2022. Read has long denied the allegations.
During opening statements, Norfolk Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally said that Read admitted to first responders that she hit O'Keefe, and asked a friend to google "how long someone has to be out in the cold to die from hypothermia."
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The defense, however, said during opening statements that Read was "framed."
"Her car never struck John O'Keefe. She did not cause his death. And that means that something else did," Read's lawyer, David Yannetti, said.
The prosecution's first witness was Paul O'Keefe, John O'Keefe's brother. He described how he came to see his brother in the hospital and saw Read "being restrained by hospital employees" and screaming "is he alive?"
The defense did not ask Paul O'Keefe any questions.
John O'Keefe's sister-in-law, Erin, also testified Monday. She said that Read claimed John O'Keefe had kissed someone else and the two argued.
The last witness to testify on Monday was Canton Police Officer Steven Saraf. He responded to the scene when John O'Keefe was found in the snow.
Saraf testfied that Read was on the scene and "was visibly upset." "She kept saying 'This is all my fault, this is my fault, I did this.' She was very hysterical," Saraf said.
Saraf is set to be cross-examined by the defense Tuesday morning.
Read is facing multiple charges including second-degree murder.
This is a developing story. Listen to WBZ NewsRadio for updates.
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