A Boston police officer, Kelly Dever, has sparked a significant legal firestorm by recanting her earlier testimony in the murder trial of Karen Read. Dever, who was on duty at the Canton Police Department on the morning of the incident, initially told the FBI that she saw two key figures near Read’s SUV. These individuals were ATF Agent Brian Higgins, who was involved in a flirtatious relationship with Read, and then-Canton Police Chief Kenneth Berkowitz. However, Dever later testified that she retracted those statements, accusing the defense team of coercing her into lying and threatening to charge her with perjury if she did not comply.
This development has raised new questions about the integrity of the investigation into John O’Keefe’s death and the potential for coercion within law enforcement. The defense is trying to show jurors that there is reasonable doubt in the investigation’s findings, pointing to past missteps by police and suggesting that Read’s SUV was not involved in the fatal injuries. The case has become a focal point for discussions on the reliability of law enforcement testimony and the implications of coerced evidence.
Dever’s testimony has also drawn mixed reactions. Some legal experts, including Mark Bederow, have called her appearance on the stand a ‘disaster,’ questioning whether she was pressured by colleagues in law enforcement into recanting her story. Others, such as retired Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Jack Lu, have praised Dever as ‘a profile in courage,’ suggesting that the defense’s desperation is evident in their reliance on her testimony.
The case has further been complicated by the lead detective’s firing for sending inappropriate texts and the ongoing public scrutiny surrounding the investigation. Read, who has sold her home and tapped her retirement fund to pay legal bills, has faced significant backlash from the public, with some calling for Dever to be held accountable for her statements. As jurors deliberate, the outcome of this trial may have lasting implications for how law enforcement testimony is perceived and handled in the legal system.