DEDHAM, Mass. —

Karen Read’s murder retrial is underway, starting approximately 10 months after her first trial ended with a hung jury.

The prosecution says Read hit her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, with her Lexus SUV outside of a home in Canton during a snowstorm on Jan. 29, 2022, following a night of drinking. Read’s attorneys indicated they again plan to pursue a third-party culprit defense strategy, arguing that someone else was responsible for killing O’Keefe and that Read is the victim of a law enforcement cover-up.

Read, 45, of Mansfield, is a former adjunct professor at Bentley University. She pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and other charges.

Testimony in Read’s first trial began on April 29, following opening statements. It ended on July 1, when jurors reported being hopelessly deadlocked, and a mistrial was declared.

Read’s team vowed to keep fighting, and her defense has waged a considerable battle across multiple courts, attempting to get charges dropped or have the case thrown out entirely. Meanwhile, a federal investigation into the case concluded without any charges being filed against police.

Ultimately, jury selection for Read’s retrial began on April 1 and continued through April 15. Eighteen jurors were selected, 12 of whom will deliberate on the verdicts. Alternates will be selected and separated from the deliberating jurors before deliberations begin.

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