DEDHAM – The high-profile one Karen Lees murder process will resume on Monday with an argument about a potential witness who is expected to testify that John O’Keefe’s injuries are consistent with a dog attack. After that hearing without jurors present, Massachusetts State Police Sergeant Yuri Boekjenik is expected back on the stand for continued cross-examination.
You can watch the testimony when it begins on CBS News Boston by clicking on the video player above.
Read is accused of hitting and killing her boyfriend O’Keefe, a Boston police officer, with her SUV after a night of drinking. O’Keefe’s body was found in the snow outside Brian Albert’s home at 34 Fairview Road in Canton on the morning of January 29, 2022.
Read’s lead attorneys, Alan Jackson and David Yannetti, have argued that she is the victim of a cover-up involving law enforcement and other witnesses in the case. They claim O’Keefe could have been killed during a fight in Albert’s home and then taken outside.
Arguments over alleged dog attacks
Judge Beverly Cannone is expected to hear arguments from both sides about possible upcoming testimony. The motion hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Monday before jurors enter the courtroom.
The prosecution filed a motion Thursday to exclude the testimony of defense witness Dr. Marie Russell. Read’s lawyers have said for months that the scratches on O’Keefe’s arm could have been caused by Brian Albert’s dog Chloe at 34 Fairview Road during a fight.
The state says they were just notified of this witness on May 21 and do not have enough time to prepare. A legal expert told WBZ-TV that the most likely outcome of the hearing is that Cannone can have attorneys interview the witness privately to determine what can and cannot be said in front of the jury.
CBS Boston
What happened last week in the Karen Read murder trial?
Much of the testimonials this past week focused on broken taillight pieces that were found at the scene of O’Keefe’s death, as well as Read’s alcohol consumption in the hours before O’Keefe died.
Later in the week, Boechenik took the stand. He was the supervisor of Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator on the case. Read’s attorneys accuse Proctor of planting evidence to cover up friends who are witnesses in the case.
Proctor, who is currently under investigation by the Massachusetts State Police, denies any wrongdoing. He will remain on full duty during the investigation.
Bukhenik’s cross-examination ended Thursday with questions about the video of Read’s SUV in the Canton Police Department’s Sallyport. Defense attorneys were in the process of asking Bukhenik why the video appears to be mirrored, something that was not noted during direct questioning.
Who is Karen Read?
A 45-year-old from Mansfield, Massachusetts, Read is charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of personal injury and death.
Read is charged with beating and murder O’Keefe, who she was dating at the time, with her SUV. According to previous witnesses, the couple had a deteriorating relationship.
Read has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
What is the schedule for Karen Read’s murder trial this week?
Judge Beverly Cannone adjusted the trial schedule in an effort to speed up the proceedings. Jury selection in the case began on April 16 and dozens of witnesses have taken the stand since testimony began on April 29.
The Public Prosecution Service is currently calling witnesses from its list. Read’s attorneys have not yet begun calling witnesses.
This week, full testimonial days are scheduled for Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with a day off on Tuesday.
Lunch breaks for jurors have been shortened to 30 minutes instead of an hour, and testimony has been extended an extra half hour until 4:30 p.m. on full testimony days.
