Judge left shaking at ‘evidence bombshell’ in Karen Read retrial hearing

A dramatic video of the judge presiding over a high profile murder case involving a woman accused of murdering her police officer boyfriend has emerged.

The judge presiding over a high-profile murder case involving a woman accused of murdering her police officer boyfriend in the US was left dramatically shaking as she halted proceedings after being presented with an “evidence bombshell”.

Judge Beverly Cannone suspended a hearing ahead of Karen Read’s retrial after being presented with new information that caused her “grave concern” and would impact the case involving the 2022 death of Boston cop John O’Keefe.

Prosecutors have claimed two expert witnesses in the first trial had been paid $US23,000 (about $36,000 Australian dollars) by Ms Read’s defence team for their testimony.

A video showing the moment the judge adjourned the session, captured by Court TV, shows her visibly trembling as she shuffles with her notepad and adjusts her glasses.

Judge Beverly Cannone suspended a hearing ahead of Karen Read's retrial over an ‘evidence bombshell’. Picture: Court TV

Prosecutors have accused Ms Read of hitting Mr O’Keefe with her SUV and leaving him to die in the snow in January 2022.

She has maintained her innocence, with her defence arguing that Mr O’Keefe wasn’t killed by his girlfriend — but instead was beaten to death by his police buddies during a drunken brawl, with Ms Read being made the scapegoat.

The case has drawn huge attention due to the accusations of a police cover-up, with Ms Read earning a “devoted band of supporters who believe she was framed”.

Her highly publicised two-month trial last year ended in a hung jury after five days of deliberations, and now legal preparations are beginning ahead of the second lengthy court battle.

Ms Read is accused of running over her policeman boyfriend John O'Keefe and leaving him for dead in the snow. Picture: Dateline

During the hearing prosecutor Hank Brennan asked that two accident reconstruction experts who testified in Ms Read’s first trial be barred from returning, the New York Post reported.

According to Mr Brennan, the experts had been hired by federal investigators, had undisclosed communications with Ms Read’s defence team, and had been paid $23,000.

Examples of some of the communications between the experts, who work for the “multidisciplinary engineering consulting firm” ARCCA LLC, were read out in court.

In one set of messages, the ARCCA witness praised the defence for its questioning and provided an outline of questions and answers to use during direct examination.

But Mr Brennan claims that the defence told the prosecution that they did not prep with the witnesses but instead relied on their report first used in the federal inquiry into the Read investigation, according to theBoston Herald.

She has denied the allegations, claiming she’s a scapegoat in a police cover-up. Picture: AP Photo/Steven Senne

After hearing the allegations, Judge Cannone called for a recess. When she returned, she suspended the hearing, telling the court, “The commonwealth just provided the court with information that causes me grave concern.”

She continued: “The implications of that information may have profound effects on this defence and defence counsel. So for that reason, I’m going to suspend today so that when we meet again to address these issues, all affected will be appropriately prepared.”

Outside the courtroom, Ms Read’s lawyer Alan Jackson denied paying the experts to testify, TMZ reported.

A new hearing to discuss the issue has been scheduled for late February.