Defense Challenges Key Witness Testimony in Karen Read Murder Trial

The trial of Karen Read, accused of second-degree murder in the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, took a dramatic turn as the defense challenged the testimony of key witness Jennifer McCabe. The defense contends that McCabe's current testimony contradicts her earlier statements, raising questions about the reliability of her account.

Jennifer McCabe testified that on the morning of January 29, 2022, she heard Karen Read say, “I hit him, I hit him, I hit him,” at the scene where O’Keefe’s body was found. However, defense attorney Alan Jackson pointed out that in her April 2022 grand jury testimony, McCabe did not mention this statement. Instead, she testified that Read asked, “Could I have hit him?” or “Did I hit him?”   
“I don’t know if I said it in the grand jury but I can say today, with 100% certainty, that she said ‘I hit him, I hit him, I hit him,’” McCabe insisted during a tense cross-examination on the 15th day of the trial. 

Karen Read, 44, faces charges of second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter, and leaving the scene of a collision that resulted in the death of John O’Keefe, a 16-year veteran of the Boston Police Department. Prosecutors allege that after a night of drinking, Read and O’Keefe argued, leading to Read backing her Lexus SUV into him and leaving him to die in the cold during a snowstorm.

Jackson highlighted that McCabe reiterated 12 times in her grand jury testimony that Read’s statements were more questioning than affirmative. He questioned why McCabe did not initially report the alleged confession if it was her most “impactful” memory of the incident.

The defense has developed a theory that others present at the home of Brian and Nicole Albert on the night of O'Keefe's death had both the motive and opportunity to kill him. Jackson suggested that there was a conspiracy among McCabe, her husband, and members of the Albert family to frame Read. This theory includes inconsistencies in phone call records and alleged opportunities for collusion.

Brian Albert, one of the individuals the defense claims had a motive, is accused along with ATF Agent Brian Higgins and Colin Albert of being involved in O’Keefe’s death. The defense pointed to wounds on O’Keefe’s arms they say are consistent with dog bites, suggesting a possible attack by the Alberts’ German shepherd, Chloe.

McCabe testified about the events leading up to the discovery of O'Keefe's body. She described texting O’Keefe while he was en route to the Albert home for an afterparty with Read.

“There is no story. There’re facts and truth on this side of the case,” McCabe said firmly, accusing the defense of “spinning” a narrative.
As the trial continues, the discrepancies in witness testimonies and the defense’s third-party killer theory have added complexity to the case. The defense’s challenge to McCabe’s testimony underscores the contentious nature of the trial, with both sides presenting conflicting narratives about the events leading to John O’Keefe’s tragic death.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Karen Read Trial, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com