Karen Read's fate in jurors' hands following month-long retrial with dramatic dashcam footage, expert testimony challenging vehicle collision theory, and powerful closing arguments.

“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.

After the defense wrapped up its questioning of Rentschler, Prosecutor Hank Brennan told the judge he did not plan to call any more witnesses, reversing an earlier request to recall a different crash expert. The lawyers agreed to begin their closing arguments at 9 a.m. Friday. They'll then hand the case to the jury.

Jurors in the murder trial of Karen Read began deliberating Friday after weeks of testimony in a highly divisive case in which the prosecution's theory of jaded love turned deadly was countered by a defense claim that a cast of tight-knit Boston area law enforcement killed a fellow police officer.

“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.”