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Attorney and Legal Experts Call for Dismissal of Karen Read Case Amid Troubling Discovery Delays, Chain-of-Custody Chaos, and Due Process Violations

By James Seidel, CC News Network

BOSTON — In the latest legal twist surrounding the Karen Read case, defense attorneys have filed a formal motion to amend the court’s scheduling order, citing egregious discovery violations and the Commonwealth’s repeated failure to produce crucial evidence — including newly acknowledged chain-of-custody reports and Sallyport video footage.

This motion, filed on February 28, underscores what legal observers have long feared — that prosecutors have systematically withheld evidence, leaving Read’s defense team without vital materials necessary to properly prepare for the pending Motion to Dismiss hearing.

As it stands, Read’s attorneys argue, proceeding as scheduled would violate her Constitutional right to due process and a fair trial, a cornerstone principle guaranteed under both the Massachusetts Constitution and the U.S. Constitution.

A Discovery Disaster Unfolds

According to the motion, the Commonwealth only disclosed the existence of additional chain-of-custody reports and Sallyport videos on February 26, less than a week before the crucial March hearings were set to begin. Prosecutors further admitted that these materials — housed within the Department’s Video File System — would not be turned over until March 3, leaving the defense less than 24 hours to review, analyze, and incorporate the data into their legal arguments.

This eleventh-hour disclosure follows a long and troubling pattern of discovery violations by the prosecution, raising concerns that evidence essential to Read’s defense has either been delayed, withheld, or outright buried.

According to a February 28 Boston Globe report, the chain-of-custody records are particularly significant because they could reveal how evidence was handled, transported, and possibly tampered with after the incident. The Globe noted that defense attorneys have consistently questioned the integrity of the investigation, including allegations that evidence was manipulated to frame Read for the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe.

The newly disclosed Sallyport footage could also corroborate or contradict the Commonwealth’s version of events — making these files directly relevant to the Motion to Dismiss and Read’s broader defense strategy.

Comparisons to Alec Baldwin’s Case: A Familiar Pattern of Prosecutorial Abuse

The discovery fiasco now enveloping the Karen Read case is eerily similar to what unfolded in Alec Baldwin’s criminal case in New Mexico. Baldwin, who faced involuntary manslaughter charges after the fatal 2021 shooting on the set of Rust, saw his case dismissed with prejudice in 2023 due to severe prosecutorial misconduct — including the late production of evidence and misleading statements about discovery completeness.

Legal analysts say the Baldwin dismissal set a clear precedent: when prosecutors repeatedly violate discovery obligations, they erode the integrity of the proceedings to such an extent that dismissal — with prejudice — is the only appropriate remedy.

In Baldwin’s case, the judge ruled that delayed evidence production and last-minute disclosures prevented the defense from meaningfully preparing for trial — a near mirror image of what Read’s attorneys now argue is unfolding in Norfolk Superior Court.

“If Alec Baldwin’s rights were violated by late discovery and shifting evidence disclosures, then Karen Read’s rights are being incinerated by what’s happening here,” said Alan Jackson, Read’s lead defense attorney. “This is no longer just incompetence — it’s a calculated denial of due process.”

The Chain-of-Custody Crisis

The newly revealed chain-of-custody reports could fundamentally alter the trajectory of Read’s case. Chain-of-custody records serve as the documented timeline of who handled physical evidence, when it was transferred, and how it was stored. Any gaps, inconsistencies, or irregularities in these records could support the defense’s longstanding claim that the investigation into John O’Keefe’s death was compromised from the start.

“If evidence handling was sloppy, or if someone tampered with the evidence to fit a pre-determined narrative, these reports could blow the case wide open,” said David Yannetti, one of Read’s local defense attorneys. “The fact that we’re only learning about these reports now — after multiple hearings have already taken place — is absolutely outrageous.”

The Role of Sallyport Videos

The Sallyport videos, another piece of evidence withheld until the last minute, could further undermine the credibility of the prosecution’s case. These videos are expected to show the movement and handling of evidence within law enforcement facilities. If the footage reveals any discrepancies or unauthorized handling, it could bolster the defense’s motion to dismiss based on evidence manipulation and investigative bias.

“This isn’t a case of innocent oversight,” said Elizabeth Little, another member of Read’s legal team. “This is about a pattern of concealment, where the state reveals critical evidence only after being backed into a corner.”

A Crisis of Credibility for Massachusetts Courts

As the Commonwealth continues to stumble through the discovery process, public trust in the fairness of the case is rapidly eroding. Legal observers say the handling of discovery in the Read case undermines faith in Massachusetts’ ability to hold fair and impartial trials, especially in high-profile cases involving law enforcement officers and well-connected figures.

“This isn’t just about Karen Read,” said Seidel. “This case is a litmus test for Massachusetts justice. If the court allows this circus to continue, it sends a chilling message to every defendant in the state — that the rules only apply to the accused, not the accusers.”

Dismissal is the Only Option

The combined weight of late discovery, missing chain-of-custody records, critical Sallyport videos, and the Commonwealth’s history of evasive disclosures leaves only one fair option: Dismiss the charges against Karen Read, with prejudice.

If Alec Baldwin’s case proved that prosecutorial misconduct warrants dismissal, then Karen Read’s case demands it. To do anything less would reward the very bad faith tactics that poison the integrity of the justice system — and would leave the door open for future weaponization of the courts against innocent defendants.

“The Constitution guarantees a fair trial, not a trial by ambush,” said Jackson. “This case should be dismissed — not because Karen Read is a police officer’s girlfriend, not because she’s been in the public eye, but because the law demands it.”

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