A crash reconstructionist will resume testimony Wednesday inKaren Read's second murder trial, as prosecutors appear poised to soon wrap their case against the Massachusetts woman accused of killing her cop boyfriend. Expert Judson Welcher is expected to face heated cross-examination from Read's defense team about his analysis of what occurred the night Boston Police OfficerJohn O'Keefedied in January 2022 using data from Read's Lexus SUV, O'Keefe's phone and crime scene evidence. Defense attorney Robert Alessi forcefully objected Tuesday after Welcher said he believed to a "reasonable degree of scientific certainty" that Read hit O'Keefe with her vehicle, arguing that the answer infringed on the jury's decision-making duty. More:Karen Read: Jurors get look at wounds of cop boyfriend she's accused of killing He and Prosecutor Hank Brennan sparred about whether the fundamental question in the case hinges on whether Read hit O'Keefe deliberately, accidentally or whether she hit him at all. Prosecutors have built their case on the argument that Read, 45, deliberately struck O'Keefe with her SUV in adrunken rageand left him to die in the snow outside the home of another cop after a night out drinking with friends. They've presented evidence of abombshell admissionRead allegedly made the morning O'Keefe's body was found, damage discovered on herLexus SUVanda timelinethat puts Read at the scene of the crime. But Read has long argued that the car crash never happened and says she was framed for O'Keefe's murder. She alleges that O'Keefe was beaten by Massachusetts police officers inside the home of Brian Albert and then attacked by a dog. Read's defense team will soon have a chance to call witnesses and present their own version of events. Now in its sixth week, the trial comes after Read's first trial ended in 2024 in a hung jury. Here's the latest from Day 22: Judge Beverly Cannone will rule Wednesday morning on whether to admit Welcher's conclusion that Read hit O'Keefe with her vehicle. CourtTV has been covering the case against Read and the criminal investigation since early 2022, when O'Keefe's body was found outside a Massachusetts home. You can watchCourtTV's live feed of the Read trialproceedings from Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Massachusetts. Proceedings began at 10 a.m. ET. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Karen Read trial live updates: Crash expert resumes key testimony
