Dog bite expert takes the stand as Karen Read murder case returns to court

A dog bite expert was back on the stand Tuesday morning as the high-profile Karen Read murder case returned to court for another pre-retrial hearing.

The defense wants to bring Dr. Marie Russell back as a key witness for Read’s second trial, which Judge Beverly Cannone agreed to delay until April 2025, but the prosecution wants to block that.

The new prosecutor in Read’s second trial case wants to block her testimony at the retrial.

Russell previously testified that the holes found in O’Keefe’s hoodie and the wounds to his arm were from a dog. Russell’s opinion is that O’Keefe’s injuries do not appear to have been caused by a vehicle.

Russell said the wounds on John O’Keefe’s arm were from a large dog. Special prosecutor Hank Brennan called her analysis “speculation.”

“Because there is no methodology or standard to look at, it involves a great deal of your subjective opinion,” Brennan remarked.

“With all due respect, Mr. Brennan, I’m not somebody that just came in off the street,” Dr Russell retorted.

Brennan says the injuries were received from Karen Read’s Lexus SUV backing into O’Keefe outside 34 Fairview Road in Canton.

Brenan also revealed says the prosecution tracked down “Chloe”, the German shepherd who lived at 34 Fairview rdRoad when O’Keefe was found outside the home in January 2022

“We actually went off and found Chloe and took molds and measured the pods in her teeth,” Brennan detailed/

Defense attorney Robert Alessi shot back at Brennan’s suggestion that molds from Chloe’s mouth would be needed.

“Have you ever heard of an emergency room doctor visiting a dog, is that a rational proposition?” Alessi asked.

A ruling on Dr. Russell’s testimony will come at a later date.

The prosecution is also asking the judge to block two accident reconstruction experts who both testified at the first trial.

Those experts said John O’Keefe’s injuries were not the result of a car strike

Read is accused of hitting her Boston police officer boyfriend John O’Keefe with her Lexus SUV on Jan. 29, 2022, and leaving him to die in the snow outside the Canton home of fellow Boston officer Brian Albert after a night of drinking.

The defense has sought to portray Read as the victim, saying O’Keefe was actually killed inside the Albert family home and then dragged outside and left for dead.

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