Week seven of the high-profile retrial of Karen Read opened with dramatic testimony from former Canton Police Officer Kelly Dever, who stated she felt pressured by the defense team to stick to statements she had since recanted — statements that placed federal agent Brian Higgins and former Canton Police Chief Berkowitz near Read’s vehicle at the department’s sallyport.
Recanted Testimony Under Scrutiny
During Monday’s proceedings, defense attorney Alan Jackson questioned Dever about a statement she gave to the FBI in August 2023, in which she claimed to have seen Higgins and Berkowitz together near Read’s Lexus SUV for an extended period after it was towed as evidence.
Dever initially confirmed the statement but later said she was mistaken, explaining, “I did not see anything,” and that claiming otherwise now would be lying under oath.
She testified she felt threatened by the defense team, who allegedly warned her she could face perjury charges for recanting, a prospect she described as “losing everything,” including her job.
The Context of the Case
Read is accused of causing the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, in January 2022 during a blizzard. Prosecutors contend Read backed her SUV into O’Keefe after heavy drinking and left him to die in the snow. The defense argues O’Keefe was attacked by fellow officers and a German Shepherd named Chloe inside a home, then dragged outside where he died.
The defense highlights testimony that Higgins had been involved with Read before O’Keefe’s death and was present at the house party on the night in question.
Parallel FBI Investigation Into Another Case
The trial has intersected with an FBI investigation into the suspicious death of Sandra Birchmore, a case linked to some of the same investigators and officials involved in Read’s trial. The former Stoughton Police Detective Matthew Farwell faces federal charges for Birchmore’s murder, which prosecutors allege was staged as a suicide.
Mentions of Birchmore’s case are barred by court order during Read’s trial.
Additional Defense Witnesses and Evidence
- Kerry Roberts, a witness for the prosecution, admitted to lying about her identity to FBI agents and giving contradictory grand jury testimony.
- Text messages from fired Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor, containing misogynistic remarks about Read, were read aloud, highlighting alleged bias against the defendant.
- Dr. Marie Russell, a trauma specialist and former police officer, testified that O’Keefe’s arm injuries were consistent with multiple dog bites or claw marks, though the judge struck the word “attack” from the record.
Trial Developments and Next Steps
The state rested its case with a video clip of Read questioning if she “hit” O’Keefe after dropping him off at an after-party.
The trial continues with intense scrutiny over witness credibility, alleged police misconduct, and the role of a German Shepherd in O’Keefe’s death, all under the watchful eyes of Norfolk Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone.
Community and Legal Observers
Observers note the trial’s complexity, involving intertwined police investigations, accusations of cover-ups, and questions about law enforcement culture in Canton and surrounding areas.
