Updated: 3:06 p.m. 6/4/25
DEDHAM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Day 27 of testimony is underway in the Karen Read murder retrial at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass.
Read is accused of hitting her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, with her SUV and leaving him to die in the snow on Jan. 29, 2022. Read’s defense team has claimed she is innocent and is being framed.
Canton Snowplow Driver Brian Loughran Testimony
Brian Loughran, a snowplow driver who was working on Jan. 29, 2022, was the first witness called to the stand on Wednesday. When he was younger, he said he delivered pizzas for Canton Select Board member Chris Albert, whose brother Brian Albert owned the 34 Fairview Road home at the time O’Keefe’s body was found. Loughran’s brother, Michael Loughran, is also on the Canton Select Board.
Defense attorney David Yannetti had Loughran describe his route across the town as the jury viewed a map on the screen. Loughran testified that he is always scanning “right and left” while plowing to watch out for pedestrians, other cars, and animals.
His route included Fairview Road, and he said he recognized Albert’s home because he used to regularly deliver pizzas there. He made several passes down the road that morning and said he had a clear view of the front yard and the flagpole at 34 Fairview Road. He said he saw “nothing” by the flagpole on any of his passes in the early hours of the morning, which is where O’Keefe’s body was ultimately found.
“I can see everything, I can see right up to the front door,” said Loughran.
Loughran also testified he saw a Ford Edge parked out front of Albert’s home at around 3:30 a.m. but did not report it to his superiors. While he would typically report a car parked on the road during the snowstorm, he decided not to out of respect for Albert, who was a first responder.
The next time he passed wasn’t until hours later, at which time police had blocked off the entire road, so he came back when they had left to finish plowing. Loughran testified that investigators did not contact him until two weeks later, but he was never contacted by the now-fired former lead investigator, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Procter.
Special prosecutor Hank Brennan handled cross-examination for the prosecution. He called Loughran’s memory of the night into question and asked if he had ever felt threatened by an online blogger. While Brennan did not name the blogger directly, he was presumably referring to Aidan “Turtleboy” Kearney, who is facing multiple witness intimidation charges connected to the case. Loughran admitted to following Kearney, but repeatedly said he did not feel threatened.
Brennan asked Loughran if he was aware of “the power that person has to get attention from the community to harass.” Loughran said “yes,” but also testified he was not paying much attention to social media at the time because of the death of his wife.
Brennan asked Loughran about pictures he took with Read’s supporters and if he liked the attention. Loughran said no, adding that he was just taking the picture to be “polite” and “avoid confrontation.”
Brennan also highlighted the numerous times, including during Wednesday’s testimony, that Loughran’s timeline of the events changed. Brennan referenced an interview with investigators where Loughran said he started his shift hours earlier than he stated on Wednesday. Loughran said he did not say that to investigators and it was always a 2:30 a.m. start time.
At redirect, Yannetti asked Loughran why he testified last year that he returned to Fairview Road around 5:30 a.m., but on Wednesday testified that it was at 6:15 a.m.
“As [Brennan’s] asking me questions, I’m trying to do the math in my head, and I’m sorry, math is not my strong suit,” Loughran testified.
Following morning recess, Brennan asked him about pictures of Loughran posted prior to the first trial, which Loughran said he did not give permission to release. Brennan asked if that was “embarrassing” for him, but Loughran responded that it was more “aggravating” than embarrassing. Loughran did agree with Brennan’s categorization that he was “embraced rather than attacked” after his testimony in the first trial.
Karolina Kolokithas Testimony
The second and final witness of the day was Canton resident Karina Kolokithas. She was among those at Canton’s Waterfall Bar & Grille with Read and O’Keefe on the night of Jan. 28, 2022. She said she became friends with O’Keefe and Jennifer McCabe, who was also at the bar, through interactions during youth sports between their kids.
Kolokithas said she spoke with Read for an extended time at the bar, describing the conversation as “coherent,” and that Read “seemed fine” and “engaged” throughout. She also recalled thinking that when O’Keefe kissed Read on the forehead, it was “the sweetest thing” she had ever seen.
As she left with Read and McCabe, Kolokithas said it was “strange” when McCabe was insistent that Read come with her. Kolokathis was not invited. She said Read did not go with McCabe and instead walked with O’Keefe in the direction of where Read's car was parked.
During a brief cross-examination, Kolokithas agreed with Brennan’s categorization of O’Keefe as a “kind,” “generous,” “thoughtful,” and “soft-spoken” person. She also agreed that O’Keefe was “extraordinarily proud and happy” that night, celebrating that his daughter was admitted to private school.
Following her testimony, Judge Beverly Cannone called for a meeting about scheduling. She said there were concerns that Thursday’s weather would require too many fans for the jury to hear witnesses properly. Lawyers on both sides have asked various witnesses to speak up during testimony due to the noise of the fans already in the courtroom. Since the trial is ahead of schedule, she cancelled court for Thursday but added that Friday will be a full day.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Kyle Bray (@KyleBrayWBZ) reports.