Trial Update on Karen Reed

Karen Reed’s legal team is approaching the conclusion of her retrial, with expert witness Dr. Daniel Wolf testifying on Friday. This marks the 28th day of her retrial concerning the murder of her ex-boyfriend, John O’Keefe, a 46-year-old Boston police officer.

Dr. Wolf is the director of accident reconstruction at Arcca, and he detailed his findings in court. He created a specialized device to simulate a cocktail glass striking the taillight of Reed’s vehicle. His analysis suggested that the damage observed could happen if something was thrown at speeds between 31 and 37 mph.

“In our tests at 37 mph, we consistently observed similar damage, including some parts of the outer lens being missing,” he noted.

The defense has been bolstered lately, particularly when a snowplow driver testified he did not see O’Keefe’s body in the snow during the incident.

During his testimony, Dr. Wolf mentioned additional damage he observed on the SUV, stating, “We saw destruction on the back assembly that aligned with the damage to the taillights.” He further indicated that glass from higher speeds was more likely to cause the observed taillight damage.

Another test conducted by Arcca examined whether the impact between the taillight and O’Keefe’s skull could lead to a fracture. Dr. Wolf found that while damage to a taillight at 15 mph was significant, it didn’t generate enough force to cause a skull fracture.

Prosecutors allege that Reed struck O’Keefe with her SUV and then left him to die in the snow during a blizzard in 2021. The defense counters this by suggesting other possible causes for his death, including potential injuries from a dog or other mishaps.

With the trial nearing its conclusion, Reed indicated to reporters outside the court that her defense may take a break next Tuesday, noting that the court won’t be in session on Thursday. If convicted, Reed faces a significant prison sentence. Her previous trial ended in a hung jury.