Karen Read is charged with charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and leaving the scene in the 2022 death of John O'Keefe.

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.

As the prosecution and the defense give their closing arguments in Karen Read’s retrial today, both sides face risks and opportunities.

Tuesday marks Day 30 of witness testimony in Read’s second trial. Attorneys are expected to argue motions, including what the defense’s next ARCCA witness will be allowed to testify before Dr. Elizabeth Laposata returns to the stand.

Without the jury in the room, prosecutors and Read’s defense will convene for a charge conference starting at 10 a.m. — the final time lawyers will be able to argue procedural issues before delivering their closing arguments. At the conference, lawyers for both sides will present their proposed jury instructions to Judge Beverly Cannone.

Read’s lawyers again asked Judge Beverly Cannone to issue a finding of not guilty before the case even gets to the jury.

The jury in Karen Read’s retrial could get the case by the end of this week after the defense’s last witness took the stand Tuesday.