Defense attorneys for Karen Read rested their case Wednesday, bringing her retrial for the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend one step closer to its blockbuster conclusion.

For weeks, all appearances were that prosecutors would call witnesses as part of a brief rebuttal case in the Karen Read retrial, giving them the opportunity to get the last word after damaging testimony from expert witnesses for the defense.

After nearly two months of testimony, Karen Read’s retrial for the murder of her boyfriend John O’Keefe is in its final days. The defense has now rested its case, without Read taking the stand. NBC News’ Emilie Ikeda reports.

“As it stands now, no competent defense counsel would call Mr. Proctor,” Jack Lu, a retired superior court judge, said in an interview before Read’s defense rested this week. “He has the ability to eviscerate the defense but without him they have a path to victory.”

Testimony resumed Friday in Karen Read’s second murder ... 2022. The strategy is nearly identical to that used by the defense team in Read’s first trial, which ended in a hung jury in ...

Karen Read tells reporters she didn't notice tensions between John O'Keefe and Brian Higgins at the Waterfall Bar and Grille shortly before O'Keefe's death.