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Watch the full coverage of the live stream on The Emily D Baker YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/live/JaBePBtlqQA
Day 36 of the Karen Read Retrial happened on June 18, 2025 and a Verdict was reached! After 4 days of deliberation, the jury in the Karen Read murder retrial delivered their verdicts. Karen Read was found not guilty of second-degree murder (Count 1) and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death (Count 3). She was found guilty only on the lesser included charge of operating under the influence (OUI) with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or greater (Count 2), which is a misdemeanor.
Immediately after the verdict, Karen Read was sentenced to one year of probation and a 24D program, which is a standard first-time OUI offer.
Outside the courthouse, Karen Read addressed the crowd while standing next to her defense team, David Yannetti, Alan Jackson, and Elizabeth Little, and Robert Alessi. Karen Read thanked her supporters and stated that no one has fought harder for justice for John O'Keefe than she and her team. Her father also acknowledged the strength of Karen and the support of their extended family and the legal team.
There was confusion during the reading of the verdicts, likely due to an initial incorrect verdict form. This form was sealed. The Commonwealth cannot appeal the not guilty verdicts. It's unlikely anyone else will be charged in John O'Keefe's death for the same crime, but if there are issues with the investigation itself, those could be charged separately. There is still the civil case against Karen read by the O'Keefe family which I will follow up on in the future but for now, .
RESOURCES
What You Need to Know About the Retrial - https://youtu.be/89Jpa8vz1RQ
Karen Read Retrial Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKOJlfL__9F027hlETVU-vo
Karen Read Trial - 2024 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKUeCUzApgsEuQRXu5IXeTS
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy -
Watch the full coverage of the live stream on The Emily D Baker YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/live/1FQDyZVIbho
Day 35 of the Karen Read Retrial happened on June 17, 2025. We are on the 3rd day of Verdict Watch and the jurors had questions!
1) They asked about the specific time frame for the OUI (Operating Under the Influence) charge, whether it was 12:45 a.m. or 5:00 a.m. The court responded that the jurors have all the evidence and are the sole fact-finders.
2) They asked if video clips of Karen Read's interviews were evidence and how they could consider them. The court affirmed that the videos are evidence and should be weighed like any other evidence. However, before considering any such statement, the jury must determine beyond a reasonable doubt that Read made the statement voluntarily, freely, and rationally.
3) The jury asked if convicting on a sub-charge (specifically offense two, number five, referring to the OUI) would automatically convict on the overall charges. The court introduced and read an amended verdict slip to clarify the process.
Later, the jury sent another question while the court was deliberating on how to answer the first 3 questions.
4) They were asking if finding "not guilty" on two charges but being unable to agree on a third, results in a hung jury on all three or just one. The court's initial inclination was to respond that it was a theoretical question and could not be answered, as jurors are not to be concerned with the consequences of their verdict. The defense objected, arguing that it was a question about how to report a verdict, not its consequences, and that the jury instructions already addressed this. Ultimately, the court decided to respond that it was a theoretical question and thus unanswerable.
No Verdict was made at the end of day, we'll see what happens on Day 36.
RESOURCES
What You Need to Know About the Retrial - https://youtu.be/89Jpa8vz1RQ
Karen Read Retrial Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKOJlfL__9F027hlETVU-vo
Karen Read Trial - 2024 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKUeCUzApgsEuQRXu5IXeTS
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy -
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Join Emily as she breaks down the latest case outside of the Karen Read Retrial. Donna Adelson's quest for a change of venue is denied and her new trial is date set during the Bryan Kohberger trial. Kouri Richins new trial is set for February 2026 and thereâs a possibility of her testifying! Plus, get the full breakdown of the massive dismissal in the Blake Lively/Justin Baldoni lawsuit.
RESOURCES
Karen Read Retrial Day 33 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wSJeNZph94
Donna Adelson Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKREcVCO0ynq9o9K6A37cuk
Kouri Richins Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gJYyEMQDM_Cn4icqWBV20fW
Depp v Heard Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gLVeg1x2AInDBfPU6-ffnD0
Last Update - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAF8jCkNKn4
NY Times Sued - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR5ncu7g_Qc
Triller v. h3h3 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gLNJ0I6fzFd8uaqDR_BOEw1
Gwyneth Paltrow Ski Crash Trial - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gIlMUdeLtN4mNQCerfWxONy
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy -
Watch the full coverage of the live stream on The Emily D Baker YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/live/4wSJeNZph94
Day 33 of the Karen Read Retrial happened on June 13, 2025. The Defense's closing argument, delivered by Jackson, focused on the lack of collision and the integrity of the investigation. The Prosecution's closing argument, delivered by Hank Brennan, focused on Karen Read's actions and the data.
After lunch, the court read the jury instructions. The court did not include the defense's requested instruction regarding John O'Keefe's hoodie but did include a straight DUI as a lesser included charge.
The jury began deliberations just after 2:39 PM local time and deliberated for a little under two hours before asking to go home for the weekend. They were instructed not to discuss the case with anyone, conduct independent research, or follow news about the case over the weekend. Deliberations will resume on Monday morning.
RESOURCES
Karen Read Retrial Day 32 - https://youtube.com/live/N1az5x1PEkM
What You Need to Know About the Retrial - https://youtu.be/89Jpa8vz1RQ
Karen Read Retrial Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKOJlfL__9F027hlETVU-vo
Karen Read Trial - 2024 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKUeCUzApgsEuQRXu5IXeTS
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy -
Watch the full coverage of the live stream on The Emily D Baker YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/live/9W-28UtY1lY
Day 31 of the Karen Read Retrial happened on June 11, 2025. Neither Karen Read nor Former Trooper Proctor will be called to testify. A charging conference, where jury instructions will be discussed, is scheduled for tomorrow. The Defense is requesting instructions regarding "missing witnesses" and the hoodie, but not a "third-party culprit" instruction.
Dr. Rentschler's testimony focused on the paint transfer test and concluded that the injuries were inconsistent with the Commonwealth's theory, stating that the abrasions on O'Keefe's arm do not correspond to how an arm would interact with the vehicle if struck at a right angle. The Defense effectively used visuals from his Power Point to support Dr. Rentschler's testimony.
During cross-examination, Special Prosecutor, Hank Brennan, largely avoided questions about Dr. Rentschler's testing, instead focusing on his independence and expenses. Rentschler maintained his opinions were unchanged by these factors. Brennan's cross-examination strategy undermined the Commonwealth's position, especially given the high payment to their own experts.
A significant development is that the Commonwealth will not call any rebuttal witnesses once the defense rests, a surprising move given their prior legal battles over testimony. The introduction of X-rays by the defense, which many believed didn't exist due to Dr. Welcher's testimony, may have influenced this decision.
With the evidence phase concluding, the next steps are the charging conference, where jury instructions and lesser-included crimes will be debated, and then closing arguments on Friday. The jury will then deliberate, with the complexity of Count Two (involuntary manslaughter) expected to be a key focus, as it was in the previous trial.
RESOURCES
What You Need to Know About the Retrial - https://youtu.be/89Jpa8vz1RQ
Karen Read Retrial Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKOJlfL__9F027hlETVU-vo
Karen Read Trial - 2024 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKUeCUzApgsEuQRXu5IXeTS
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy -
Watch the full coverage of the live stream on The Emily D Baker YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/live/qgkQm-VgMu0
Day 30 of the Karen Read Retrial happened on June 10, 2025. Defense Attorney Alan Jackson started the day by coming in hot and accused the Prosecution of "burden shifting," implying they were improperly trying to make the defense prove their case. He provided a transcript that the Prosecution opened the door to ask Dr. Laposata about dog bites when Brennan inquired Dr. Russell about Dr. Laposata's report about dos bites. The Judge Denied questioning about dog bites but okay to question about animal bites. The judge offered to give an instruction about burden shifting to the jury but Jackson declined it.
There was confusion about whether Dr. Wrenchler had seen X-ray evidence, as he testified there were none done to the arm, while Dr. La Pasada's testimony indicated X-rays did exist. This point raises questions about what evidence was provided to Dr. Wrenchler and how rebuttal will go.
During Cross Examination and the Morning Break, Brennan wanted to impeach Dr. Laposata's credibility with past issues from her time as a medical examiner, including an audit and handling of the Station nightclub fire. The court allowed some of this to be brought up during cross-examination but not all.
A juror's question led to the court clarifying what it meant when video evidence was "stricken" during testimony showing that all jurors are paying attention and really want to get the understanding right.
The Defense's last witness, Dr. Andrew Rentschler, a Biomechanical Engineer at ARCCA, testified about how ARCCA was hired by a government agency and was not given information about the case. They were only give the circumstances and to try to recreate it. His analysis of John O'Keefe's injuries were that the injuries were not consistent with being struck by the Lexus, specifically the tail light. He determined that the force required to produce the skull fracture was significantly higher than what could result from impact with the taillight at a speed of 15 mph.
There were several disputes regarding the content of Dr. Rentschler's PowerPoint presentation, with objections to text containing hearsay and ultimate opinions. The court ordered the presentation to be edited, with certain text removed. This will be finalized on Day 31 before the jury comes in.
RESOURCES
What You Need to Know About the Retrial - https://youtu.be/89Jpa8vz1RQ
Karen Read Retrial Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKOJlfL__9F027hlETVU-vo
Karen Read Trial - 2024 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKUeCUzApgsEuQRXu5IXeTS
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy -
Watch the full coverage of the live stream on The Emily D Baker YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/live/_U9Gv2ielto
Day 29 of the Karen Read Retrial happened on June 9, 2025. On week 8 of the trial, will the jury get the case this week to deliberate?
Special Prosecutor, Hanke Brennan, asks Dr. Wolfe, the Director of Accident Reconstruction at ARCCA, about the appearance of holes on the back of Mr. O'Keefe's hoodie and whether these holes are consistent with road rash or other damage. He asked him if he'd ever consider if Mr. O'Keefe may have fallen or landed on his back. Dr. Wolf stated he did not consider whether Mr. O'Keefe had fallen or landed on his back.
Defense Attorney, Robert Alessi, asked for a Mistrial with Prejudice due to Intentional Misconduct by the prosecution regarding questioning about the hoodie and its damage. The defense argued the prosecution intentionally left out evidence about the holes on the back of the hoodie being clippings from the crime lab. The judge did not grant a mistrial but agreed to instructed the jury to disregard the questions and give a strong admonishment about the prosecution. When it came time to it, the Judge did not give a strong admonishment or admit the pictures into evidence. At the end of the day, the defense said that they will address this the following day.
A Voir Dire of Dr. Laposata was conducted and Judge Cannone ruled she cannot testify that the wounds on John O'Keefe's arm were from a dog, but she will be able to testify about the original opinions about the cause and manner of death. Direct Examination continues on Day 30.
RESOURCES
What You Need to Know About the Retrial - https://youtu.be/89Jpa8vz1RQ
Karen Read Retrial Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKOJlfL__9F027hlETVU-vo
Karen Read Trial - 2024 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKUeCUzApgsEuQRXu5IXeTS
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy -
Watch the full coverage of the live stream on The Emily D Baker YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/live/fyEtt02zOn8
Day 28 of the Karen Read Retrial happened on June 6, 2025. Karen Read spoke to the media and suggested the case might go to the jury the following week. The judge denied the motion to have police procedure expert Michael Easter testify.
Today we were all day with Dr. Daniel Wolfe, Direct of Accident Reconstruction at ARCCA. He tests conducted using a pressurized air cannon to fire a drinking glass at a car's tail light to simulate damage. ARCCA also purchased an "exemplar vehicle," a 2021 LX 570, to test damage to the tail light. ARCCA conducted tests to rebut Dr. Welcher's testimony. They tested to see if damage from a thrown rocks glass matched the damage to Karen Read's tail light, and compared that to damage from collisions with a test dummy arm and Resource Randy, a full body dummy. Tests were conducted using a crash test dummy with a hoodie similar to John O'Keefe's, and none of the tests damaged the hoodie. The most helpful part of Dr. Wolf's testimony was explaining the inner and outer plastic layers of the tail light, which helped understand the depth of the damage.
RESOURCES
What You Need to Know About the Retrial - https://youtu.be/89Jpa8vz1RQ
Karen Read Retrial Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKOJlfL__9F027hlETVU-vo
Karen Read Trial - 2024 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKUeCUzApgsEuQRXu5IXeTS
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy -
Watch the full coverage of the live stream on The Emily D Baker YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/live/-SN-jb2bT-0
Day 27 of the Karen Read Retrial happened on June 4, 2025. When prosecution's usually focus on making a case clearer, in this case, the prosecution's strategy seems to be to muddy the evidence.
Brian Loughran, a snow plow driver, said he saw a Ford Edge parked on the street going up Fairview around 3-4am. There's a procedure to call in vehicles parked on the street during snow removal, but he did not do so. While Special Prosecutor, Hank Brennan, did the cross-examination, he focused on online activity, specifically about a blogger talking about him. He stated he knew someone was talking about him online, but he didn't feel threatened or harassed. He also mentioned that his wife had recently passed, and he wasn't paying attention to online activity.
Karina Kolokithas, a friend of John and Karen who was at the Waterfall Bar, spoke about how everyone was in a celebratory mood and having a good time. John O'Keefe was described as being "over the moon excited" for his niece and her future. She also mentioned that John and Karen were "sweet with one another." She talked to Karen Read for more than 50 minutes and noted that Karen was drinking water all night. She did not perceive Karen Read to be intoxicated. This point was highlighted as potentially persuasive for the jury regarding Karen Read's level of intoxication. Her testimony about the jovial evening was contrasted with the defense's presentation of the waterfall video, which focused on the interactions between Brian Higgins, Brian Albert, and Chris Albert, suggesting potential doubt about the overall mood of the evening.
RESOURCES
Retrial Day 25 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agSsaDTCZJc
What You Need to Know About the Retrial - https://youtu.be/89Jpa8vz1RQ
Karen Read Retrial Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKOJlfL__9F027hlETVU-vo
Karen Read Trial - 2024 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKUeCUzApgsEuQRXu5IXeTS
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy -
Watch the full coverage of the live stream on The Emily D Baker YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/live/VaZWKV-xJkQ
Day 26 of the Karen Read Retrial happened on June 3, 2025. Dr. Marie Russell, the defense's dog bite expert, is on the stand for cross-examination. There's discussion about Karen Read's statements and whether they changed Dr. Russell's opinion. Dr. Russell states that Read's statements did not change her analysis, citing Read's stressful state and potential acute grief reaction.
The defense moves for a mistrial with prejudice due to the prosecution bringing up DNA in front of the jury, which is ultimately denied. Dr. Russell's redirect involves questions about why DNA results not showing dog DNA didn't change her opinion, and discussions of medical journal articles regarding dog bites.
Sgt. Nicholas Barros, a Dighton Police Officer, testifies about observing damage to the tail light of Karen Read's SUV. He describes a crack and a missing piece instead of the majority of it gone. Special Prosecutor, Hank Brennan, cross-examines Barros, focusing on inconsistencies in his testimony and report, his meeting with defense attorneys, and the condition of the tail light being potentially obscured by snow. There's a discussion about photos of the tail light and discrepancies in the damage shown, and how his memory of the damage might have been affected by seeing various videos and photos of the vehicle after the initial observation.
RESOURCES
First Trial Day 22 - https://youtube.com/live/_Z1DhJDQj5Y
What You Need to Know About the Retrial - https://youtu.be/89Jpa8vz1RQ
Karen Read Retrial Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKOJlfL__9F027hlETVU-vo
Karen Read Trial - 2024 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKUeCUzApgsEuQRXu5IXeTS
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy -
Watch the full coverage of the live stream on The Emily D Baker YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/live/agSsaDTCZJc
Day 25 of the Karen Read Retrial happened on June 2, 2025. During week seven of the trial, the defense is currently presenting its case, and they are keeping in mind that the prosecution will have rebuttal witnesses.
Judge Cannone allowed Former Trooper Michael Proctor's texts to be admitted into evidence while being read by his childhood friend, Jonathan Diamandis. When the texts messages began to get really egregious, the witness didn't feel comfortable reading it allowed so Special Prosecutor, Hank Brennan, read them allowed while the witness confirmed what was said. This didn't offer for the truth of the matter but instead, focusing on his state of mind and potential bias in the investigation.
A key witness, Kelly Dever, a former Canton police officer, testified about seeing Chief Burkowitz and Brian Higgins with Karen Reed's SUV for a long time the night of John O'Keefe's death. She later claimed this was a false memory influenced by a timeline. She also mentioned being interviewed by the FBI and being threatened with perjury by the defense team.
Dr. Marie Russell, a dog bite expert, discussed John O'Keefe's injuries to his right arm. Dr. Russell believes the injuries are consistent with a dog attack and not with a motor vehicle accident. The cross-examination of Dr. Russell is ongoing, focusing on her expertise, marketing, and opinions. Cross examination will continue on Day 26!
RESOURCES
Latest Emily Show Episode - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4hWb8uQjsI
What You Need to Know About the Retrial - https://youtu.be/89Jpa8vz1RQ
Karen Read Retrial Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKOJlfL__9F027hlETVU-vo
Karen Read Trial - 2024 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKUeCUzApgsEuQRXu5IXeTS
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy -
Emily unpacks the prosecutionâs latest moves, including detailed witness testimony from former associates of Sean âDiddyâ Combs. These testimonies describe alleged racketeering, coercion, and disturbing claims about Diddyâs influence over law enforcement. Emily explains what the government is trying to prove, how these allegations could support a broader conspiracy charge, and what this means for the future of the case.
Tom Girardi Sentencing - The disgraced former attorney is facing sentencing for stealing from his clients, with a new court date set for June 3rd. Emily walks through whatâs at stake, how the court is approaching his health and legal status, and why this case continues to shake the legal industry.
The Chrisley Case and Comeback? After convictions for tax evasion and bank fraud, the Chrisleys received a high-profile pardon from President Trump. Now, theyâre reportedly planning a new reality show about their legal journey. Emily explains the legal timeline, the public reaction, and what we might expect from their next chapterâboth in court and on-screen.
Karen Read Trial | The Proctor Problem - The episode then shifts back to the Karen Read trial, now in its seventh week. Emily dives deep into the growing controversy around former lead investigator Michael Proctor, whose text messages have raised serious concerns about bias and misconduct. She explains the complex legal arguments about whether those texts can be admitted as evidence, the defenseâs surprise move to not call Proctor as a witness (for now), and the strategic risks involved.
RESOURCES Previous Podcast Episode - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAF8jCkNKn4
Karen Read Retrial Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKOJlfL__9F027hlETVU-vo
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy -
Defense Case Starts and they don't want to call Proctor | Case Brief
Watch the full coverage of the live stream on @TheEmilyDBaker YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/live/0Coi3nBtXcQ?si=5VFXwAl2xxgxxDpB
Day 24 of the Karen Read retrial focuses on the defense's case and a motion to dismiss. Initially, the motion to dismiss is discussed, highlighting how it is generally denied unless there's a complete lack of evidence. The court typically favors the prosecution's evidence for this motion.
The defense then presents its first witness, a tech expert and accident reconstructionist, who analyzes reports from Burgess and Welchure. The expert discusses the timing of the text stream event (1162-2), the backing event of Karen Read's vehicle, and John O'Keefe's phone time. He simplifies complex slides and presents 30 different timing possibilities between the Lexus text stream time and O'Keefe's phone. He points out that three of these possibilities show the text stream event ending after O'Keefe's phone's last manual button click.
The expert also addresses whether Karen Read's car ever registered a collision in its data, concluding there was no registration of a collision during relevant trigger events. Cross-examination by Brennan explores the expert's reliance on others' data and whether the Lexus ever registered a collision before. It is clarified that the system is geared toward vehicle-to-vehicle collisions, not vehicle-to-pedestrian ones.
Further discussion includes a second chip-off procedure and an SD card found with date and time information, clarifying the timing of key cycles. Brennanâs cross-examination also focuses on a chart of infotainment calls and the expertâs understanding and assumptions about the data. The discussion highlights that the expert agrees the closest points in time to the 11622 event, specifically the three-point turn maneuver, are the most reliable for syncing the clocks.
The day ends with discussion about Michael Proctor's text threads and the defense's attempt to authenticate them without calling Proctor as a witness. The Commonwealth argues Proctor needs to be called for cross-examination. The judge reserves a ruling on this matter.
RESOURCES What You Need to Know About the Retrial - https://youtu.be/89Jpa8vz1RQ
Karen Read Retrial Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKOJlfL__9F027hlETVU-vo
Karen Read Trial - 2024 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKUeCUzApgsEuQRXu5IXeTS
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy -
Watch the full coverage of the live stream on The Emily D Baker YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/live/NqdL0Oq7uMA
Day 23 of the Karen Read Retrial happened on May 29, 2025. Judge Cannone ruled against allowing the defense to question Dr. Welcher further about Trooper Paul and Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello. The definition of "rely" and its implications in questioning witnesses were discussed. Dr. Welcher remained on the stand for the duration of the half-day session. The defense was allowed to cross-examine the Commonwealth's new accident reconstruction expert about what they relied on from the previous expert, but not necessarily all of their opinions. The defense would have to call Trooper Paul themselves.
Dr. Welcher was questioned about the suspension system and height variance of the Lexus were discussed, the 3D modeling process, and about the glass on the bumper that the expert's assumptions was that it was inclusive. Cross-examination concluded after the morning break.
The Commonwealth rested its case, and the Defense will argue their motion to dismiss on Day 24 and call their first witness, their tech expert, Matthew DiSogra.
RESOURCES
What You Need to Know About the Retrial - https://youtu.be/89Jpa8vz1RQ
Karen Read Retrial Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKOJlfL__9F027hlETVU-vo
Karen Read Trial - 2024 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKUeCUzApgsEuQRXu5IXeTS
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy -
Watch the full coverage of the live stream on The Emily D Baker YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/live/IduAs7XWVEU
Day 22 of the Karen Read Retrial happened on May 28, 2025. After a brief Direct Examination by Special Prosecutor, Hank Brennan, of their Accident Reconstructionist, Dr. Welcher, Cross Examination took up the whole day and will continue on Day 23.
Defense Attorney, Robert Alessi, ross-examination was rigorous and focused on challenging the credibility, methodology, and conclusions of the Commonwealth's expert witness. Dr. Welcher was repeatedly admonished by the court for looking at his computer and searching for information during the cross-examination, rather than answering directly from memory.
Alessi questioned Dr. Welchre about the significant amount his firm, Aperture, was being paid by the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office ($325,000), and the details surrounding the purchase and sale of a Lexus exemplar for testing. The defense sought to highlight potential bias due to financial incentives.
Alessi challenged inconsistencies in Dr. Welchre's testimony, such as the distance the Lexus traveled in reverse during a test (initially said to be 53 feet, then 87 feet), and the explanation of the 8 mph threshold for tail light breakage.
Alessi delved into Dr. Welcher's use of data and images from Trooper Paul's report, questioning the extent to which Dr. Welcher relied on that information in his analysis. There was a dispute about a drone image and other diagrams, leading to a "Voir dire" (examination outside the presence of the jury) to clarify the sources of these materials.
The voir dire aimed to clarify the sources of Dr. Welcher's materials and to determine the extent to which he relied on Trooper Paul's report or other evidence. It highlighted the defense's effort to question the independence of Dr. Welcher's analysis and the Commonwealth's attempt to defend it. The voir dire concluded with plans to continue the cross-examination the following day, with the understanding that time was limited due to a juror's scheduling issue.
RESOURCES
What You Need to Know About the Retrial - https://youtu.be/89Jpa8vz1RQ
Karen Read Retrial Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKOJlfL__9F027hlETVU-vo
Karen Read Trial - 2024 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKUeCUzApgsEuQRXu5IXeTS
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
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Watch the full coverage of the live stream on The Emily D Baker YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/live/3DAtOqbCSh0
Day 21 of the Karen Read Retrial happened on May 27, 2025. Week six of evidence included a voir dire of Dr. Welcher, the Commonwealth's accident reconstructionist. Concerns were raised about updated slides and changes to the presentation at the direction of Special Prosecutor, Hank Brennan, without informing the defense. Dr. Welcher also mentioned being "inundated" with emails about issues with Burgess' CV but he was told by the court not to read or discuss them.
The accident reconstructionist focused on the "trigger event," during a three point turn and its connection to Ian Whiffin's last point of contact. There was also discussion of variance, the three-point turn of the Lexus, and the backing event. Dr. Welcher analyzed the Lexus's tech stream data, which records data before and after a trigger event, such as reversing and accelerating. The data showed the backing event occurred about 8 minutes after the three-point turn. There are discrepancies and confusing aspects of Dr. Welcher's testimony and PowerPoint slides.
He also revealed that the Lexus's tires were spinning and slipping during the backing event, and the car traveled a total of 87 feet. Dr. Welcher ultimately concluded that the Lexus struck John O'Keefe, which led to objections and a sidebar discussion. Dr. Dr. Welcher struggled to provide exact details, such as the point of impact or speed, and that many of his findings showed âresults that were all over the mapâ. He also mentions he is only certain that damage to Karen Read's tail light didn't come from John O'Keefe's Chevy.
Though this expert's testimony was tedious and disorganized, it did provided many areas doubt which is a win for the defense. Direct Examination will continue on Day 22.
RESOURCES
What You Need to Know About the Retrial - https://youtu.be/89Jpa8vz1RQ
Karen Read Retrial Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKOJlfL__9F027hlETVU-vo
Karen Read Trial - 2024 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKUeCUzApgsEuQRXu5IXeTS
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy -
Bryan Kohbergerâs has filed a 40-page motion to continue the trial, arguing they are not ready and need more time for investigation and preparation, particularly for the death penalty phase. The defense is also concerned about a Dateline special that aired, featuring non-public information allegedly leaked from law enforcement or the prosecution. They argue the special was prejudicial and portrayed Kohberger negatively. In addition, a forthcoming book by James Patterson titled "The Idaho Four: American Tragedy" is also cited as a major concern. The book claims to have "unmatched access" to the investigation and is set to be released shortly before jury selection in July. The defense argues it will further prejudice the jury pool. The court had previously issued a non-dissemination order to restrict the release of certain information. The defense argues that both the Dateline special and the book appear to violate this order. The defense asserts that proceeding with the trial as scheduled would violate Kohberger's constitutional rights, including the right to a fair trial, due process, and effective counsel. The defense suggests that a trial delay might not be the only remedy, hinting at the possibility of further motions, such as removing the death penalty or dismissing the case.
RESOURCES
Previous Podcast Episode - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAF8jCkNKn4
Karen Read Retrial Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKOJlfL__9F027hlETVU-vo
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy -
Watch the full coverage of the live stream on The Emily D Baker YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/live/bmNghhaIVik
Day 20 of the Karen Read Retrial happened on May 21, 2025. Involving court delays, individual jurors questioned at sidebar, and a shift in witness order. Judge Cannone addressed the jury when they came back from the inquiry and asked them if they refrained from doing research or independent investigations. She noted that she had already asked them about discussing the case with anyone or seeing, hearing or reading information about the case. Their seats were rearranged and the court day moved forward.
Dr. Aizik Wolf, a neuro brain surgeon, testified about the injuries to John O'Keefe's head, stating they were consistent with a fall backward. The doctor also clarified that other facial lacerations would not have been caused by this type of fall.
Scientific evidence from Christina Hanley, a Trace Analyst, a state crime lab, analyzed the glass and plastic fragments. She linked clear and red plastic pieces from John O'Keefe's clothing to the tail light housing. Defense Attorney, Alan Jackson, presented a demonstrative exhibit showing which evidence items matched and which didn't. The ones that didn't match were collected by Trooper Michael Proctor.
RESOURCES
Retrial Day 17 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_Lo2vXvHyM
What You Need to Know About the Retrial - https://youtu.be/89Jpa8vz1RQ
Karen Read Retrial Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKOJlfL__9F027hlETVU-vo
Karen Read Trial - 2024 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKUeCUzApgsEuQRXu5IXeTS
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy -
Watch the full coverage of the live stream on The Emily D Baker YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/live/IJgD247smlQ
Day 19 of the Karen Read Retrial happened on May 20, 2025. Defense Attorney, Robert Alessi, continued cross examining Shanon Burgess. Questions arose regarding the accuracy of dates and timeline in the expert's analysis, with errors of 24 hours. Burgess kept saying that the event happened the night of January 29-30th when in reality is it was January 28-29th.
Shanon's analysis of call logs, text streams, and vehicle data was scrutinized. There were concerns about the use of approximate times and potential confirmation bias. The expert did not have the raw data for the techstream information, he instead got it from Welcher's report.
During redirect examination, Special Prosecutor, Hank Brennan, attempted to clarify Burgess' credentials and data interpretation. Pointing out that he didn't need that degree to perform his job and that work life balance made it a challenge to complete his degree.
On Re-Cross Examination, Alessi pointed out that in a federal court filing in Texas, Burgess' resume stated he was anticipating a BGS - Bachelor of General Science in 2024. There is no Bachelor of General Science degree in Alabama and he has been pursuing this degree since 2008.
The use of the Commonwealths presenting video and audio clips, especially the voicemail, appears to be related to establishing a timeline of Karen Read's movements and actions around the time of John O'Keefe's death. The defense may use it to show her actions were consistent, while the prosecution may use it to point out inconsistencies. The 12:25/12:30 timeframe she gives for John's passing may be challenged given her audio from the voicemail at 12:41AM.
Later in the day, Christina Hanley, a trace analyst expert witness from the lab testified about a mechanical match on glass. The court adjourned early after sidebar discussions. We'll get back to her on Day 20.
RESOURCES
Retrial Day 10 - Voicemails - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2vEF0vxG2w
What You Need to Know About the Retrial - https://youtu.be/89Jpa8vz1RQ
Karen Read Retrial Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKOJlfL__9F027hlETVU-vo
Karen Read Trial - 2024 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKUeCUzApgsEuQRXu5IXeTS
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy -
Watch the full coverage of the live stream on The Emily D Baker YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/live/Hi_HNpRVySA
Day 18 of the Karen Read Retrial happened on May 19, 2025. Shanon Burgess, a Digital Forensic Examiner from Aperture, is witness number 35. His testimony revolves around correlating the timing of events from Karen Read's Lexus vehicle data and John O'Keefe's phone location data.
Burgess provided detailed explanations of Lexus infotainment system data (Lexus clock and techstream data), key cycles, triggering events (like a three-point turn), and how this data was correlated with the data from John O'Keefe's iPhone. Time variances between the Lexus clock and the iPhone clock and the significance of these variances in relation to when O'Keefe's phone was locked.
Defense Attorney, Robert Alessi, strongly challenged Burgess's credibility during cross examination by highlighting discrepancies and potential misrepresentations in his CV (resume), Aperture website information, and LinkedIn profile concerning his educational background and degrees.
Questions were also raised about a report Burgess submitted on May 8th, at the request of the prosecution. Burgess stated he did it on his own initiative due to the report from the Defense's expert. It was thought that he did it at the request of the prosecutor but attributed the "per your request" statement to a copy-paste error.
Alessi further challenged Burgess's understanding of data storage (megabits vs. megabytes) and the completeness of data extractions from the vehicle's chips. This could significantly impact the jury's perception of Shanon's testimony and the prosecution's case. The errors and inconsistencies in his statements, reports, and qualifications raise serious questions about the reliability of his expert opinions. There's more cross examination to come on Day 19.
RESOURCES
What You Need to Know About the Retrial - https://youtu.be/89Jpa8vz1RQ
Karen Read Retrial Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKOJlfL__9F027hlETVU-vo
Karen Read Trial - 2024 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gKUeCUzApgsEuQRXu5IXeTS
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy - Laat meer zien
