Read is accused of backing her SUV into her Boston police officer boyfriend, John O’Keefe, and leaving him for dead.

“I don’t believe that’s consistent with the evidence and what occurred,” Rentschler replied. Rentschler was the final defense witness, just as he was during Read’s first trial last summer. After he left the stand, Jackson announced Read’s defense would rest its case subject to a final ruling on evidence.

It took eight weeks and dozens of witnesses, but on Friday, Karen Read's retrial shifted to its most critical phase: jury deliberations.