The retrial of Karen Read, charged with the murder of her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, prominently featured a former Massachusetts state trooper’s conduct, particularly regarding the investigation he managed. Defense lawyers focused on Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik, Proctor’s supervisor, who admitted to being disciplined for misconduct related to Proctor but maintained that Proctor handled the investigation with “honor and integrity.” Bukhenik testified that biases existed but did not affect the investigation’s outcome.
Read, 45, faces serious charges, including second-degree murder, stemming from O’Keefe’s death on January 29, 2022, where he was found unresponsive in a yard after allegedly being struck by Read’s vehicle while she was intoxicated. The first trial ended without a unanimous jury verdict after nine weeks, and this retrial marks its third week. Prosecutors argue that Read acted out of anger over her troubled relationship with O’Keefe, while her defense claims she is a victim of a conspiracy involving a cover-up to frame her, suggesting O’Keefe may have been beaten inside a friend’s home.
The defense highlighted Proctor’s alleged mishandling of evidence and personal biases during the investigation, which led to his dishonorable discharge after he sent derogatory messages about Read. Bukhenik confirmed he received some of these messages but insisted they did not influence the investigation, further stating that Proctor was not the sole investigator responsible for the team’s findings. Despite acknowledging Proctor’s flaws, he upheld the investigation’s integrity, stating the evidence consistently pointed in one direction.
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