News Summary
In the ongoing retrial of Karen Read, defense attorney Alan Jackson has requested that Officer Kelly Dever be added to the Boston Police Department’s Brady list due to concerns over her credibility. This request stems from Dever’s inconsistent testimony regarding her observations on the day John O’Keefe died. Allegations of false memories and potential perjury have raised critical questions about Dever’s reliability as a witness in criminal cases, with serious implications for future prosecutions and the integrity of law enforcement.
Boston – The lead defense attorney for Karen Read is requesting that Officer Kelly Dever be added to the Boston Police Department’s Brady list, a record that identifies law enforcement officers whose credibility is questioned. This list must be disclosed to defense attorneys in criminal cases to ensure transparency regarding the integrity of witness testimonies.
Defense attorney Alan Jackson alleges that Officer Dever’s credibility has been “irreparably compromised” due to inconsistent testimony provided during Read’s retrial. During the proceedings on June 2, Dever stated she did not witness anything unusual in the Canton Police sallyport garage on January 29, 2022, the day John O’Keefe died. At the time of the incident, she served as a patrol officer with the Canton Police Department.
In a prior statement to FBI agents, Dever indicated that she had seen witness Brian Higgins and then-Canton Police Chief Kenneth Berkowitz in the sallyport garage shortly after O’Keefe’s death, where Read’s SUV was stored. However, during her testimony at Read’s retrial, she retracted these earlier statements, referring to them as inaccurate recollections or “false memories.”
Jackson argues that Dever’s conflicting accounts suggest either perjury or a condition leading to false memories, which brings her trustworthiness into question. He contends that Dever’s testimony cannot be relied upon, influencing all cases involving her as a witness. In light of these concerns, Jackson has sent a letter requesting that the Boston Police Department immediately add Officer Dever to the Brady Database and disclose her claims of false memories in any case she may be involved in.
Failure to disclose Officer Dever’s status could potentially violate constitutional rights for the prosecution and the Boston Police Department, which could threaten the integrity of cases where she provides testimony. The ramifications of Jackson’s request could significantly impact Dever’s future role in legal proceedings, limiting her effectiveness as a witness.
In response to these allegations, Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox stated that he was unaware of any claims against Officer Dever and denied any participation in the Karen Read case. Dever herself expressed ambivalence over the context of her statements made during a meeting with Cox regarding her testimony.
Karen Read was tried for the murder of John O’Keefe but was acquitted of murder and manslaughter charges. However, she was convicted of drunk driving, resulting in a sentence of one year of probation. Read has publicly expressed skepticism about the validity of Dever’s altered account, suggesting that pressure from her department may have influenced the changes in her testimony.
The push to include Officer Dever on the Brady list arises in the aftermath of the retrial, which saw Read face serious charges that could have resulted in significant prison time. The development places a spotlight not only on Dever’s testimony but also on the broader implications for law enforcement credibility and the judicial process.
As the situation evolves, the implications of Jackson’s demands for Officer Dever’s inclusion in the Brady list remain significant for both the Boston Police Department and the integrity of future criminal cases involving her testimony. The legal community will closely monitor how this request unfolds and its potential effects on ongoing and future prosecutions.
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Additional Resources
- Boston.com: Karen Read Attorney Alan Jackson
- NBC Boston: Karen Read Attorney Wants Officer Added to Brady List
- Boston 25 News: Read Defense Demands Officer be Placed on Brady List
- Boston 25 News: Reaction to Alan Jackson’s Letter
- Wikipedia: Brady List
