Trial Resumes with New Witnesses and Evidence
The murder trial of Karen Read resumed in Dedham, Massachusetts, after a nearly week-long hiatus. Jurors were presented with photos of Read’s Lexus SUV, John O’Keefe’s lost sneaker, and the hooded sweatshirt he was wearing when he died. State police Lt. Kevin O’Hara was the first new witness on the stand, followed by Maureen Hartnett, a Massachusetts State Police forensic scientist. The prosecution introduced photos showing evidence gathered in the area where O’Keefe was found unresponsive in a snowbank on January 29.
Karen Read stands accused of second-degree murder charges for allegedly hitting O’Keefe with her SUV and leaving him to die in a snowbank after dropping him off outside the Canton home of Brian and Nicole Albert. O’Keefe, a Boston police officer, was dating Read at the time of his death. However, Read’s defense claims she is being framed and asserts that O’Keefe was actually beaten to death during a party inside the Albert home.
State Police Lieutenant Testifies
During the trial, State Police Lt. Kevin O’Hara testified as a member of the evidence search unit. O’Hara stated that his team responded to the Albert home hours after O’Keefe’s death and discovered six or seven pieces of red and clear plastic from a broken tail light during a grid search. While Read’s defense concedes that the tail light on her SUV was broken at some point, they refute the prosecution’s claim that it broke when she hit O’Keefe. The defense argues that the police planted the plastic at the scene to frame Read.
Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally finished his questioning of O’Hara, and then Defense Attorney David Yannetti began his cross-examination. Yannetti questioned O’Hara about Trooper Michael Proctor, who has been a subject of inquiry from the defense. Yannetti also raised concerns that the crime scene was left unattended for hours before O’Hara conducted the search. O’Hara confirmed that he was not aware of the unattended scene and clarified that he was instructed to search for a sneaker and tail light pieces in the snow, not inside the Albert home.
State Police Forensic Scientist Testifies
Following O’Hara’s testimony, State Police forensic scientist Maureen Hartnett took the stand. Hartnett stated that she examined Read’s impounded Lexus after O’Keefe’s death and found an “apparent hair” on the SUV’s rear bumper. Photos of the SUV and its broken rear tail light were shown to the jurors. Hartnett further testified about examining O’Keefe’s clothing, including the sweatshirt he was wearing when he died. The prosecution presented photos of the sweatshirt, showing damage on the right sleeve.
The defense argues that the damage on the sweatshirt came from dog bites during the alleged brawl inside the Albert home, which they claim caused O’Keefe’s death. However, Hartnett stated that the Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory does not test for signs of an animal attack and sent the sample to the University of California, Davis for further testing. Forensic scientist Teri Kun from UC Davis previously testified in the trial, stating that DNA tests found no evidence of a canine attack.
As the trial continues, further witnesses and evidence are expected to shed light on the events surrounding John O’Keefe’s tragic death. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
