Karen Read Defense Bolstered by 'Cannon' Test in John O'Keefe Murder Retrial

In a dramatic turn of events in the retrial of Karen Read, accused of murdering her former boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, the defense has presented compelling new evidence. On the 28th day of the trial, crash reconstruction expert Dr. Daniel Wolfe took the stand, unveiling results from a unique experiment that could shift the narrative in Read's favor.

Dr. Wolfe, director at ARCCA, detailed a specialized test using a 'cannon' to simulate the impact of a cocktail glass thrown at Read's SUV taillight. The results? At speeds between 31 and 37 mph, the damage mirrored what was found on Read's vehicle. This suggests the taillight damage may not have resulted from a collision with O'Keefe, as prosecutors claim, but possibly from an object hurled with force.

Further tests by ARCCA explored whether an impact with the taillight could have caused O'Keefe's fatal skull fracture. At 15 mph, the damage to a test taillight far exceeded that of Read's SUV, yet it still didn’t generate enough force for such a severe injury. Additional experiments with fabric similar to O'Keefe's sweatshirt showed no punctures at various speeds, casting further doubt on the prosecution's theory.

Prosecutors allege that Read, 45, struck O'Keefe with her 2021 Lexus SUV during a blizzard, leaving him to die with a fractured skull. The defense, however, paints a different picture, pointing to alternative causes for his injuries, including a possible dog bite or a physical altercation involving another individual.

As the trial nears its conclusion, with Read's defense potentially resting soon, the stakes couldn’t be higher. A conviction could mean life in prison for Read, whose first trial ended in a deadlocked jury. This latest testimony might just be the pivot her case desperately needs.