Both sides in Karen Read’s murder retrial appeared in court Thursday for a hearing before they deliver closing arguments to jurors on Friday. The hearing is known as a charge conference, where the parties hash out instructions the jury will receive before they start deliberating. Jurors weren’t present for Thursday’s proceedings.

The two cases boil down to three words for the defense and prosecution. For the prosecution it is Karen Read’s alleged admission at the scene: “I hit him.” For the defense it is

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