Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
DEDHAM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Tuesday was the sixth day of testimony in the Karen Read murder trial at Norfolk Superior Court.
Karen Read is accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, by hitting him with her SUV on Jan. 29, 2022.
Read has pleaded not guilty to the charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of personal injury and death.
In the first week of testimony, Canton firefighter and paramedic Katie McLaughlin testified that Read said “I hit him” while on the scene of the Canton home where O’Keefe’s body was found. The home was owned by retired Boston Police Officer Brian Albert.
Read More: Karen Read Murder Trial Resumes With Day 5 Of Testimony
On Monday, the defense argued that McLaughlin "perjured herself" during her testimony when she said she was not friends with nor discussed the case with Brian Albert's daughter Caitlin, who she went to high school with.
Two members of the Canton Police Department also testified about how evidence was gathered at the scene and how Read acted that night.
Canton Police Sgt. Sean Goode continued his testimony on Tuesday.
David Yannetti, Read's lawyer, questioned why certain evidence — a photo of a piece of taillight — was not logged that night but was later added to the police report. Yannetti brought up the question of whether this action to add evidence to a report after the fact was disingenuous.
The prosecution is alleging that Read hit O'Keefe with her car, leaving behind pieces of the taillight as evidence.
The morning unfolded with several sidebars, including Judge Beverly J. Cannone telling the defense what they can and cannot question Canton Police Sgt. Michael Lank on.
Read More: Karen Read Trial Resumes With Day 4 Of Testimony
Lank testified during questioning from the prosecution that the officers who were first to the scene had to use unusual methods to gather evidence because of the blizzard conditions at the time, such as using red solo cups to collect blood samples that were then stored in a Stop & Shop bag.
He also said that it was a "futile" effort to keep the crime scene tape around the area because of the wind, but "there were marked patrol cars in front of the yard at all times, so the scene was fairly secure."
The defense cross-examined Lank, diving into the details of how the police secured the crime scene and prevented potential witnesses from talking to each other.
They questioned why Lank and other officers didn't separate witnesses inside the Alberts' house when they were retelling the events. During the questioning, Lank told the defense that he did not investigate the basement of the house when O'Keefe's body was found just outside.
"At that point in time, I never made it past the front foyer area," stated Lank. He said that he didn't have probable cause to search the rest of the house.
Read's defense said this means Lank didn't search the rest of the house for signs of a fight, such as broken furniture or torn clothing.
The last witness called to the stand on Tuesday was Canton Police Lt. Charles Rae.
He was called to do a wellness check on O'Keefe's family — two young children staying at his house — the morning his body was found after learning that both O'Keefe and Read had been taken to the hospital.
Rae was only on the stand for around 15 minutes before court ended for the day since it was a planned half-day.
WBZ NewsRadio's Emma Friedman (@EmmaFriedmanWBZ) reports.
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