O Karen Read trialthe woman who allegedly killed her Boston police officer boyfriend, John O’Keefe, by intentionally driving her SUV into him and leaving him to die in a blizzard outside a Canton home in 2022, opened Monday.
Witness testimony continues Tuesday morning after prosecutors on Monday called O’Keefe’s brother, Paul, his sister-in-law, Erin, and Canton police officer Steven Saraf to testify.
WATCH LIVE: Testimony continues on Day 2 of Karen Read murder trial
Defense attorney David Yannetti said during opening statements that Read was “framed for a murder she didn’t commit,” while prosecutors said a broken taillight and her own words to firefighters that she “hit him” will prove she is guilty.
Saraf returned to the stand and Read’s other lawyer, Alan Jackson, questioned him to begin the second day of proceedings
Fellow Canton police officer Stephen Mullaney, who also responded to Fairview Road in Canton the night of O’Keefe’s death, was called to the stand next.
Mullaney, when questioned by Yannetti, stated that he never heard Read declare, “I did it” or “I beat him.” He also said pieces of a broken taillight were at the scene.
Tuesday’s proceedings will only run until 1pm because this trial will have half days on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Karen Read Murder Trial: A Guide to the Key Players You Need to Know
Live updates from Ted Daniel, who is at the Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham:
Ofc Mullaney says he didn’t see any tail light parts at the scene. He said he was 10-12 feet from the body was found
-Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 30, 2024
Officer Mullaney says he never heard Read say “I hit him” when he was at the scene. Mullaney says a lieutenant used a leaf blower to clear the area where O’Keefe’s body was found.
-Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 30, 2024
Officer Mullaney says Jennifer McCabe was calm and undisturbed, but Read was – and kept repeating “is he dead?” and “that’s my boyfriend”
-Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 30, 2024
Yannetti at the intersection asks Ofc. Mullaney if he remembers who was giving CPR to JO when he arrived. Mullaney says that -at the time- he wasn’t sure who he was
-Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 30, 2024
Mullaney says he was called back to 34 Fairview Rd by reports that KR was threatening suicide after JO was taken to Good Sam
-Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 30, 2024
Some jurors are shaking their heads between ADA Lally and Ofc Mullaney. Others are stuck with Mullaney. many taking notes
-Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 30, 2024
Clear. Mullaney says nothing stands out to him about what the ground looked like underneath JO when JO was transferred to an ambulance
-Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 30, 2024
Clear. Mullaney says nothing stands out about him over the ground beneath JO, like when JO was transferred to an ambulance
-Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 30, 2024
Canton Police Officer Stephen Mullaney is next.
-Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 30, 2024
Ofc Saraf says he didn’t see anyone from either house leave when he was there. This is in response to the defense’s question about Alberts not leaving.
Saraf’s testimony is complete-Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 30, 2024
Prosecutor Lally, redirected, asks Ofc Saraf about his April 2022 GJ statement where he says KR said “It’s my fault” on the spot.
-Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 30, 2024
Saraf confirms that he did not locate any taillight parts or JO’s missing shoe. Jackson asks “has it ever occurred to you to look inside the house?” Saraf said it would not be an appropriate protocol
-Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 30, 2024
Jackson shows a video that he says shows Jennifer McCabe entering 34 Fairview Road. He asks Ofc Saraf if it is appropriate for her to enter the house at a “crime scene”
-Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 30, 2024
Jackson showing the dashcam video and asks Ofc Saraf if Read was heard saying “I left him and he never came home”, I’m in the back of the courtroom and couldn’t understand the audio
-Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 30, 2024
Ofc Saraf says he doesn’t remember meeting prosecutor Lally before his testimony before a state grand jury. Jackson accuses Saraf of “changing her story”
-Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 30, 2024
Ofc Sarah confirms that the only statement he attributed to Read in his report is KR saying “Is he dead?” repeatedly. Saraf described her as seriously disturbed in his report
-Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 30, 2024
Jackson asks Ofc Saraf a series of questions about Jen McCabe, including whether she was trying to save JO’s life at the scene
-Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 30, 2024
Jackson asks Saraf if he was trying to “mask the address” of Brian Albert (34 Fairview). At the time, Brian Albert was a Boston police officer
-Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 30, 2024
Saraf told a state grand jury that he responded to 35 Fairview Road. Jackson is trying to show poor record keeping and discrepancies from the beginning of this case.
-Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 30, 2024
The dispatch log shows the scene as 32 Fairview Rd when the address was 34 Fairview Rd. Jackson says the log is “faulty”
-Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 30, 2024
Jackson asking Saraf about discrepancies in the police dispatch log. Saraf confirms arrival times are wrong
-Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 30, 2024
We are underway. The judge recognizes the difficult time many people had getting in due to traffic problems this morning. Officer Saraf is called back to the witness stand
-Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 30, 2024
Good morning from the courtroom where testimony continues in Commonwealth v. Karen Read. We ended yesterday afternoon with canton police officer Steven Saraf on the stand. He was one of the first responders at 34 Fairview Rd when John O’Keefe was found in the snow. The defense…
-Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) April 30, 2024
It’s the second day of witness testimony and Karen Read has arrived at Norfolk Superior Court. No big crowd today like yesterday when she got out of the car and crossed the street. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/0RsTiDR9d1
-Ryan Breslin (@ryanjbreslin) April 30, 2024
Previous history:
Read, 44, of Mansfield, faces multiple charges, including second-degree murder in the 2022 death of John O’Keefe, 46. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Paul O’Keefe told the court that Read was “screaming” and being restrained by staff after John O’Keefe was rushed to Good Samaritan Hospital.
Officer Saraf said he saw Karen Read giving CPR to John O’Keefe, had blood on her and repeatedly asked, “Is he dead?” while on site.
During opening statements, prosecutor Adam Lally said the evidence would show that data from Read’s SUV drove 60 feet in reverse at 24 miles per hour.
“The defendant repeatedly stated, “I hit him, I hit him, I hit him,” Lally said.
Meanwhile, the defense maintains a different story.
Defense lawyer David Yannetti said: “Karen Read has been accused of a murder she did not commit.” He also said the relationship between Read and O’Keefe had soured.
Yannetti argued that close relationships between investigators and those at the Canton home the night of O’Keefe’s death resulted in authorities focusing only on Read.
Tuesday’s process will take place until 1 pm. This case will have half days on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
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