Police Commissioner Addresses Influences in Read Murder Retrial

Police Commissioner Rejects Claim of Influence in Read Murder Retrial

Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox addressed questions regarding the Karen Read case during a press event. The statement came after a current Boston police officer testified in a high-profile retrial and defense attorneys suggested the department’s leadership had improperly influenced that officer’s testimony.

Key developments

Officer Kelly Dever, currently with the Boston Police, testified in Read’s murder retrial and said she had a conversation with Cox about the case before her testimony. The defense in Read’s retrial suggested that Cox influenced Dever’s testimony. Dever denied receiving any guidance from Cox and said he told her to tell the truth. When asked about his involvement, Cox said he had nothing to do with Karen Read and claimed he was unaware of her association with the case. Cox said he supports all members of the Boston Police Department and has no knowledge of specific cases unless told.

What Dever testified

Dever testified about what she saw at the Canton Police Department’s sally port on the morning of John O’Keefe’s death. Her testimony included descriptions of who was present and what she observed in the moments around the incident. During court, Dever described a heated exchange with Read’s attorney, Alan Jackson, who asked about her presence in the courtroom.

On cross-examination, Dever initially said she had seen ATF agent Brian Higgins and former Canton Police Chief Kenneth Berkowitz in the sally port, but later retracted that statement and attributed it to a false memory influenced by media reports. The retraction and its explanation prompted criticism fromRead, who criticized Dever for changing her testimony and suggested Dever was rushed during a conversation with Cox.

Defense and prosecution positions

Read’s defense alleged that she was framed and that evidence might have been planted against her by investigators involved in the case. Defense attorneys argued that inconsistencies and altered testimony raised questions about the origins and handling of evidence. Prosecutors alleged that Read struck John O’Keefe with her SUV and left him to die in a snowstorm, and they presented testimony meant to support that account during the retrial.

Case status and background

Read was previously acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the case on June 18. The retrial addressed both evidentiary issues and witness credibility that were central to the original proceedings. The incident under review stems from the death of John O’Keefe and has involved multiple agencies and several lines of inquiry, which have produced disputed accounts and competing theories about what occurred.

Why this matters

The exchange between police leadership and a testifying officer is drawing attention because it touches on witness independence and public trust in investigations. The retrial process is examining whether testimony and evidence meet legal standards for reliability. Courtroom exchanges, retracted statements, and allegations of planted evidence all factor into how jurors and judges weigh the competing narratives presented by defense and prosecution.

Federal and local law enforcement names and actions cited in testimony continue to be examined by counsel for both sides. The presiding court will determine whether the retrial evidence is sufficient to support the charges under state law and procedural rules.