The ongoing murder trial of Karen Read has captivated the attention of the public as testimonies from first responders shed light on the events surrounding the death of her boyfriend, John O’Keefe. The highly-anticipated trial entered its second day with three new witnesses taking the stand, while the defense cross-examined Canton police officer Steve Saraf.
Karen Read, a 44-year-old resident of Mansfield, has pleaded not guilty to charges including second-degree murder in connection with O’Keefe’s death in January 2022. Prosecutors allege that Read killed O’Keefe, a 46-year-old Boston police officer, by hitting him with her car during an argument and leaving him to die in a snowbank. However, Read’s defense claims that she is being framed and asserts that O’Keefe was beaten inside the home of a fellow Boston officer before being left outside. The defense further suggests a law enforcement cover-up involving multiple individuals and agencies.
The trial began with jury selection last week, followed by opening statements and initial witness testimony on Monday. O’Keefe’s brother, Paul, his wife, Erin, and Canton Police Officer Steve Saraf were among the first witnesses to testify. Saraf, who was working overnights on the day of the alleged murder, described finding Read with blood on her face and heard her screaming, “This is all my fault.” The prosecution presented video evidence from Saraf’s police cruiser showing Read’s frantic behavior.
However, the defense focused on discrepancies between Saraf’s grand jury testimony and his testimony during the trial. They also highlighted crucial omissions from Saraf’s police report about the day O’Keefe died. Attorney Allen Jackson questioned Saraf on why he attributed the phrase “This is my fault, I can’t believe this happened” to Read for the first time in April 2022, but did not mention it in his official report or interview with Trooper Michael Proctor.
The defense continued its cross-examination of witnesses, including Canton Police Officer Stephen Mullaney, who testified about his memories of the crime scene. Following a brief break, Canton Firefighter and Paramedic Timothy Nuttall took the stand as a first responder. Nuttall recalled asking Read and two other women at the scene if they saw anything or knew what happened. He claimed that one woman repeatedly said, “I hit him,” while having blood on her face.
Read denied saying those exact words, stating that Nuttall’s account was not accurate. Defense Attorney Alan Jackson pointed out that Nuttall’s story changed from initially telling a state police investigator that he overheard Read say “I hit him” to one of her friends, not directly to him. The defense expressed confidence in poking holes in Nuttall’s testimony, emphasizing that none of the prosecution’s witnesses concerned them.
Canton Fire Department Lt. Anthony Flematti concluded the day’s proceedings as the prosecution’s next witness. The trial is expected to continue for several weeks, with both sides presenting additional evidence and witnesses.
7NEWS legal analyst Tom Hoopes provided insights into the defense’s decision not to cross-examine Paul O’Keefe and Erin. Hoopes suggested that the defense believed these witnesses could be beneficial to their case and emphasized the importance of backing up allegations of a cover-up to maintain credibility with the jury. He anticipated that the defense would introduce more evidence and witnesses to strengthen their argument.
As the trial progresses, a 200-foot buffer zone will remain in place around Norfolk Superior Court based on Judge Beverly Cannone’s order.
Stay tuned to 7NEWS for the latest updates on this developing story.
