In a gripping conclusion to the Karen Read murder trial, both the prosecution and defense delivered their closing arguments on June 25, 2024. Prosecutor Adam Lally leaned heavily on the statement “I hit him,” reportedly heard from Read by four witnesses, to argue her guilt in the death of John O’Keefe.
“I hit him, I hit him, I hit him,” Lally recounted, emphasizing the significance of these words. He urged jurors to use their common sense and life experiences to guide their decision. Lally dismissed the defense's claims of evidence planting and stressed that despite Trooper Michael Proctor’s “unprofessional” text messages, the investigation maintained its integrity.
Lally presented a detailed timeline of events starting from the morning of January 28, 2022, highlighting Read’s consumption of seven drinks within about an hour and a half. He noted that Read’s vehicle traveled at 24 miles per hour in reverse, which he suggested contributed to O’Keefe’s fatal injuries.
Lally played recordings where Read expressed anger towards O’Keefe, allegedly knowing where his body was when she returned to 34 Fairview Road on January 29, 2022. He pointed out that Read drove to her parent’s house during a snowstorm instead of staying at O’Keefe’s home, suggesting a consciousness of guilt.
“If she didn’t kill John, why would she say that?” Lally asked, referring to a text Read sent to an O’Keefe family member indicating she might never see them again.
Lally also explored the possible motive, citing a trip to Aruba in December 2021, which led Read to believe O’Keefe had cheated on her. Witnesses, including O’Keefe’s niece and nephew, testified about the couple’s frequent arguments.
Defense attorney Alan Jackson, in contrast, depicted the prosecution’s case as fundamentally flawed and based on deceit. “Look the other way,” Jackson began, asserting that the prosecution relied on lies and manipulation.
Jackson argued that Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor and other investigators repeatedly lied to support their narrative. He detailed numerous inconsistencies and alleged cover-ups, including a “mysterious” Google search, deleted calls, and manipulated evidence.
Jackson highlighted a critical piece of evidence: O’Keefe’s Apple Health data, which indicated he arrived at 34 Fairview Road at 12:21 a.m. and took 80 steps, suggesting he was not struck by Read’s vehicle.
He questioned why Read’s SUV taillight appeared only slightly cracked on surveillance footage but was completely smashed when later examined by police.
Jackson also challenged the credibility of witness Brian Higgins, who described a man entering 34 Fairview Road but failed to provide a clear account of events. He suggested that Higgins and another individual, Brian Albert, could have been involved in O’Keefe’s death.
The defense emphasized expert testimonies from accident reconstructionists who concluded that O’Keefe’s injuries were not consistent with being struck by Read’s SUV. Jackson argued that O’Keefe’s injuries could have resulted from a physical altercation or a dog attack, thereby raising reasonable doubt about Read’s involvement.
Jackson concluded by urging jurors to reject the prosecution’s narrative, stating, “Ignore the lies and the manipulations and misogyny, the bias, the lack of evidence. Could you ever do that? Would you ever do that?”
As the trial draws to a close, the jury must now weigh the arguments presented by both sides and determine whether Karen Read is guilty of killing John O’Keefe.
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