Karen Read prosecutors seek to ‘substantially’ reduce witnesses called to speed up upcoming re-trial

Karen Read appeared in court Wednesday as attorneys from both sides of the aisle requested her re-trial for the alleged murder of her cop boyfriend be delayed until April — with prosecutors arguing they intended to “substantially” reduce the number of witnesses on this go-around.

“It will allow me when I evaluate this case, which I’m still in the process of doing, of reducing the witness list substantially,” Special Prosecutor Hank Brennan — whose previous clients include Boston mobster Whitey Bulger — told the court during his delay arguments, the Boston Globe reported.

Read’s first trial over the 2022 death of Boston cop John O’Keefe dragged on for a grueling two months, with 74 witnesses being called for extensive rounds of cross-examination. Brennan, who was assigned to the case in September, said more time would also allow him to better prepare to keep the trial quick and efficient.

“I am new to the case. I’m not looking for a personal accommodation, but I think the idea of a motion to continue, a joint request, is in the interest not only of justice but I think — inevitably — I truly believe it is going to have a more efficient and effective trial,” he said, according to WCVB.

Read’s first trial ended with a gridlocked jury and mistrial in July, with the new trial currently slated for January. Her attorney agreed with the prosecutors’ delay motion, explaining they would also like until April to asses new analysis of evidence.

Read showed up to court Wednesday with her usual style, sporting a plaid knit dress from Theory worth about $400 as she sat by attentively while the attorneys argued their sides.

Judge Beverly Cannone did not make a decision on the delay motions, but scheduled two new hearings for Nov. 26 and Dec. 12.

The next November hearing will discuss prosecution requests for phone records — while the December hearing will address the prospect of another appearance of a dog bite expert who previously testified that O’Keefe appeared to have been mauled by a dog prior to his death.

That story was central to the defense’s explanation of the events that led to O’Keefe’s death on Jan. 29, 2022. They argued that the Boston cop wasn’t killed by Read — but rather was beaten to death by his cop buddies during some kind of drunken brawl, then left in the snow with Read being scapegoated as the killer.

Judge Cannon also ruled in favor of allowing a new expert for the prosecution to test data from Karen Read’s SUV — which the state argued she used to run down O’Keefe, leaving him to die in a snowbank — while allowing the defense five days to find their own expert to evaluate the evidence.

Read is also holding out hope that she might avoid a second murder trial altogether, as Massachusetts’ Supreme Judicial Court is still ruling on a request to throw out charges of murder and leaving the scene of an accident.

Her attorneys said numerous jurors came forward to say they had unanimously cleared her of those charges and had only been unable to reach a decision on manslaughter — but that they misunderstood the court procedure, and a mistrial was called before they could explain their position.

Judge Cannone previously denied that motion.