DEDHAM – Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor will be back on the stand Wednesday for continued cross-examination in the high-profile case Karen Lees murder process. Proctor was the lead investigator in the case and on his first day of testimony he was forced to read derogatory messages he sent Read to friends and fellow troopers.
You can watch the testimony when it begins on CBS News Boston by clicking on the video player above.
Prosecutors say Read struck and killed her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, with her SUV in January 2022 and left him to die in the snow. Defense attorneys claim O’Keefe was killed during a fight at Brian Albert’s home at 34 Fairview Road.
Proctor’s text messages came to light as part of a federal investigation into the handling of the case, although jurors cannot be informed of that investigation. On Monday, Proctor called the messages “unprofessional and deplorable.”
Read’s attorney Alan Jackson is conducting cross-examination of Proctor, who remains on full duty but is currently under investigation by the Massachusetts State Police for unspecified reasons.
Text messages from Private Michael Proctor
Proctor’s text messages took center stage as he served as a prosecution witness.
Among the messages Proctor read in court was one in which he called Read “an asshole.” [expletive].” In another message, Proctor told a colleague: “She’s dirty. F— her. B—-.”
When Proctor searched Read’s phone as part of the investigation, he texted his superiors: “No nudes yet.”
“These juvenile, unprofessional comments have no bearing whatsoever on the facts, evidence and integrity of this investigation,” Proctor testified Monday. “These are unprofessional comments, but they do not in any way undermine the integrity of the investigation or its facts and evidence.”
Read was asked about the messages as he left court on Monday.
“I didn’t do anything wrong. He did,” Read told WBZ-TV’s Kristina Rex. ‘You might ask him how he feels about hearing that in open court. I’m not ashamed or embarrassed about it.”
Who is Karen Read?
Read is a 45-year-old woman from Mansfield, Massachusetts, who is charged with manslaughter, manslaughter while operating under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of personal injury and death.
She has pleaded not guilty to assault and murder O’Keefe, and claims she is the victim of an extensive cover-up by law enforcement officials and others. According to testimony from previous witnesses, O’Keefe and Read had what was described as a deteriorating relationship.
What is the schedule for Karen Read’s murder trial this week?
Judge Beverly Cannone has tried to give full days of testimony as often as possible to speed up the proceedings. Last week, the judge told jurors she plans for them to deliberate in late June.
This week, full days of testimony are scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. There was no court on Tuesday.
At least part of a day this week will likely be spent with attorneys questioning potential defense witnesses without the jury present.
