crime

ABC’s “20/20” announced in a new trailer an “exclusive one-on-one personal video with Karen Read one week before her trial.”

As her high-profile murder case continues to dominate headlines and she inches closer to her second trial, Karen Read is scheduled to appear in a new ABC special, “20/20,” on Friday.

The news program released a trailer on social media on Tuesday, promising “an exclusive, personal video with Karen Read one week before her trial.” Some of the footage in the trailer appears to be from an interview Read gave to ABC’s “Nightline” last year, months before her trial.

Read, 44, is accused of drunkenly and intentionally driving her SUV into Boston police officer John O’Keefe – her boyfriend of two years – in January 2022, leaving him dying in the snow outside a Canton home. Prosecutors allege Read’s deteriorating relationship with O’Keefe may have driven her to murder, pointing in particular to flirtatious text messages she exchanged with another man, as well as the angry voicemails she left O’Keefe on the morning of his death, in which she called him a “fucking pervert” and told him she hated him.

“Would you say you were angry with John that night?” asks ABC News’ Matt Gutman Read in the trailer for “20/20.”

“Yes,” Read answers openly.

But the Mansfield woman maintained her innocence, and her lawyers pointed to a number of civil and police witnesses who they said plotted to blame Read for O’Keefe’s death.

“They claim they’re covering it up,” Gutman notes in the trailer. “Why would they want to be part of this conspiracy?”

“Because he’s dead,” counters Read.

Read’s first trial began in April and ended in a miscarriage of justice on July 1 after the jury failed to reach a verdict. Prosecutors plan to retry her in January.

The case attracted national attention during more than eight weeks of testimony, with crowds gathering outside Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham each day of the trial. The trailer for “20/20” includes clips of supporters of the “Free Karen Read” campaign declaring Read’s innocence, as well as counter-protesters chanting “Lock her up” and “Justice for JJ” – O’Keefe’s nickname.

The trailer also features some of O’Keefe’s friends, pondering his memory or criticizing Read’s behavior during the trial. Meanwhile, Read gets ready for court, touching up her hair and makeup and double-checking her outfit.

“I’m confident that I’m doing everything I can, and that includes looking professional in court,” she tells the camera. “I just got this suit from the tailor because the sleeves were too long, and my mother really doesn’t like people having sleeves that are too long.”

Read’s “20/20” special premieres Friday at 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. It will also be available to stream on Hulu.