Prosecutors in the trial of Karen Read, accused of the murder of her boyfriend John O’Keefe, continue to build their case by presenting expert testimony that supports the claim that she struck O’Keefe with her SUV on the night of his death. The evidence includes data from the vehicle’s black box, which did not record a direct collision but indicated the car’s movement consistent with O’Keefe’s final moments. Dr. Judson Welcher, the crash expert, testified that the data shows Read’s vehicle was operating at 74% throttle without braking, suggesting a reckless driving scenario that aligns with the timeline of O’Keefe’s death. The absence of black box collision data, which only registers car-to-car impacts, has sparked debate about the reliability of the evidence.
Welcher also highlighted the correlation between the cellphone data from O’Keefe and the vehicle’s timing, which suggests that Read’s car was in the vicinity of O’Keefe’s body at the time of his death. During the testimony, Welcher reenacted the incident using a similar vehicle, resulting in paint marks on his arm that matched the injuries sustained by O’Keefe. This experiment was crucial in supporting the prosecution’s argument, demonstrating that the SUV’s taillight could have caused the lacerations observed on O’Keefe’s arm. Despite the defense’s attempts to challenge the expert’s credentials, Welcher’s testimony has been seen as a strong indicator that Read’s SUV was involved in the incident.
As the trial progresses, the prosecution is expected to rest its case soon, with the defense anticipated to face significant challenges in countering the expert’s findings. If found guilty of second-degree murder, Read could face life imprisonment, which has intensified the focus on the evidence presented by Welcher. The case has drawn considerable public attention, with experts and legal analysts scrutinizing the technical details of the black box data and the reenactment of the events. The outcome of the trial could set a precedent regarding the admissibility of such evidence in future cases involving vehicular manslaughter and homicide.