Norfolk DA plans to use Karen Read's statements from TV interviews against her in trial

Rick Sobey, Boston Herald on Apr 14, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

BOSTON — Norfolk DA prosecutors plan to use Karen Read’s statements from several TV interviews against her in the upcoming retrial.

The DA’s Office on Monday said it intends to “introduce extrajudicial statements of the defendant” when the Read retrial finally gets going.

Prosecutors allege that Read struck John O’Keefe, a Boston Police officer who she had dated for roughly two years, with her Lexus SUV after a night of heavy drinking and left him to freeze and die on a Canton front yard in the early morning.

Read’s defense attorneys have countered throughout the case that Read has been framed by corrupt local and state cops and prosecutors working with the owner of the home on whose lawn O’Keefe was found. Defense attorneys say O’Keefe made it into the home that night and was beaten to death inside.

“The defendant has made numerous statements to witnesses, first responders, medical providers, family members, and journalists, as well as recorded statements on John O’Keefe’s cellphone,” the prosecutors wrote in Monday’s motion. “These statements range from the defendant’s immediate impressions and state of mind in the minutes and hours surrounding John O’Keefe’s death to crafted narrations, sometimes in the presence of counsel, that recount for the defendant’s version or impressions of events months and years after the murder.

“All of these statements are ones of the opposing party, made by the defendant and therefore admissible,” they added. “The Commonwealth thereby provides this Honorable Court notice of its intention to introduce statements of the defendant.”

Read gave extensive interviews to HBO Max for “Body in the Snow.” She also spoke to NBC’s Dateline for “The Night of the Nor’easter,” and to ABC’s 20/20 for “The Perfect Storm.”

Jury selection continues to drag on, with 16 jurors picked so far. The court wants 18 jurors selected before the trial starts.

_____