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

“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.”

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.

SIGN UP FOR BREAKIN Karen Read's defense strategy for her second murder trial, which is scheduled to begin Tuesday, will be seriously curtailed by a court decision issued Monday afternoon.

Read is accused of striking her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, with her SUV and leaving him to die in the snow.

Norfolk Superior Court released a number of requests by both defense attorneys and prosecutors that could shape the way the jury deliberates about Karen Read's fate.

Jurors were not present in court Thursday as attorneys in the Karen Read retrial worked out the jury rules and instructions<a class="excerpt-read-more" href=" More

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.