Commonwealth v. Read — Trial Archive
Person Adam Lally Trial 1Trial 2Adam Lally led the Commonwealth’s prosecution in Trial 1 and remained on the prosecution team in the retrial, delivering the first trial’s opening and examining witnesses in both trials. ← All People
🏛️ Prosecution · Norfolk County DA

Adam Lally

Trial 1Trial 2
20,319 lines 516 proceedings 2 trials
Courtroom still of Adam Lally.

About

Adam Lally served as lead trial prosecutor for the Commonwealth in the first Karen Read trial, partnering with ADA Laura McLaughlin. He delivered the prosecution's Trial 1 opening statement and handled 137 proceedings, examining first responders, law-enforcement officers, lay witnesses, and defense witnesses. Lally remained on the prosecution team in the retrial and handled 21 proceedings, principally direct and redirect examinations of scientific and forensic witnesses. His approach was methodical and chronological, using detailed qualification, physical evidence, and video to build the Commonwealth's presentation; on redirect, he used focused follow-up to address points raised on cross-examination.

Key Points

  • In his Trial 1 opening statement, Lally methodically walked the jury through the entire timeline of January 28–29, 2022 — from drinks at C.F. McCarthy's through the drop-off at 34 Fairview Road and the discovery of O'Keefe's body — previewing nearly every witness and evidence category in a dense, chronological narrative designed to establish the Commonwealth's theory before a single witness took the stand.
  • Lally's examination of the Canton fire and EMS crew — Flematti, Nuttall, Kelly, McLaughlin, and Walsh — formed the spine of the prosecution's early case, eliciting each first responder's account of finding O'Keefe unresponsive and, critically, their testimony that Karen Read repeatedly stated 'I hit him' at the scene, a statement the defense would spend the trial contesting.
  • During his cross-examination of Brian Loughran, a defense witness who claimed to have driven past 34 Fairview Road in the hours before O'Keefe was found, Lally deployed a sustained impeachment: he confronted Loughran with a prior May 2023 interview report containing materially different times, used Loughran's own route timeline to argue his claimed pass was too late to support the defense's theory, and established that Loughran had met twice with defense attorney Yannetti in the week before testifying — drawing a picture of a coached witness with inconsistent accounts.
  • Lally conducted voir dire of Officer Michael Lank mid-trial to rehabilitate him after defense cross-examination raised his connections to the Albert family, establishing that Lank had charged an Albert family member in an unrelated matter — a move designed to preempt any inference of bias in Lank's scene investigation and the later discovery of taillight plastic on February 4, 2022.
  • Across both trials, Lally conducted 53 redirect examinations — 45 in Trial 1 and eight in the retrial — using focused follow-up to address points raised on cross-examination. His retrial redirects included Dr. Faller, Hannah Knowles, Robert Gilman, Evan Brent, Andre Porto, Ashley Vallier, Carl Miyasako, and Christina Hanley.

Trial Record (516)

516 proceedings

Trial 1 First Criminal Trial Apr 29, 2024 – Jul 1, 2024 488 proceedings

Day 1

Opening Commonwealth Opening Statement Adam Lally 2 highlights 1 lines spoken
Summary

Mr. Lally outlines the Commonwealth's allegations and requests convictions on murder and related charges.

Highlights (2)
Quote

“the only true and just verdict based on that evidence is that the defendant, Karen Read, is guilty of murder in the second degree”

Mr. Lally states the Commonwealth's requested verdict and its opening theory.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

In his opening, Mr. Lally asks jurors to find Karen Read guilty based on the evidence the Commonwealth says it will present, alleging that she struck Mr. O'Keefe with a car, left him outside during a blizzard, and committed related offenses.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Paul O'Keefe Adam Lally 3 highlights 321 lines spoken
Summary

Paul O'Keefe described the January 29 hospital aftermath and identified people, vehicles, and snow-removal activity in Ring videos from the Meadows Ave. home.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

Ring videos marked as Exhibit 6 were played as O'Keefe identified vehicles and people arriving at and leaving the Meadows Ave. home, as well as snow-removal activity.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Erin O'Keefe Adam Lally 5 highlights 173 lines spoken
Summary

Erin O'Keefe described family and relationship history, January 28 communications, and what she learned after Johnny was found in the snow; the court gave a limiting instruction on alleged statements by Read.

Highlights (5)
Key Moment

Erin O'Keefe described Johnny assuming guardianship of Kristen and Steve's children after both parents died and moving with them to the Meadows Ave. home in Canton.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Erin O'Keefe testified that Karen Read told her by text in Aruba that she had seen Johnny kissing Laura's sister and that they argued; the judge instructed jurors to consider the alleged statements only for Read's state of mind and the nature of the relationship, not for their truth.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Erin O'Keefe recounted January 28 messages in which Read asked whether she was out without Paul and later reported an argument with Johnny about taking a child to Dunkin' Donuts.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Erin O'Keefe testified that she awoke on January 29 to Paul saying Johnny had been found in the snow, and that Read then yelled on the phone that John was dead before Kerry Roberts said he was at the hospital.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Show 1 more
Direct Steven Saraf Adam Lally 3 highlights 213 lines spoken
Summary

Officer Saraf described his snowy early-morning response to 34 Fairview Road, his initial observations of John O'Keefe and Karen Read, and cruiser-camera video of his route and arrival.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

Saraf testified that he arrived at 34 Fairview Road during heavy snow, saw three women on the lawn and a person on the ground, later identified as John O'Keefe.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Sidebar Ring Video Exhibit 3 lines spoken
Summary

Counsel discussed showing Ring video to the witness for identification and snow-removal timing, with no defense objection, and the judge directed it be marked as an exhibit.

Day 2

Cross Steven Saraf Alan Jackson 6 lines spoken
Summary

Officer Saraf acknowledged errors in the dispatch log and omissions from his early accounts, while the defense used dash-camera video to question what he observed and heard at the scene.

Redirect Steven Saraf Adam Lally 2 highlights 20 lines spoken
Summary

Saraf explained emergency dispatch procedures, reaffirmed his memory of the scene, and said he saw no residents come outside while he was on Fairview Road.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

Saraf said he did not know Kerry Roberts, Karen Read, John O'Keefe, or Jennifer McCabe before the call and testified that he saw no one emerge from 34 Fairview Road or elsewhere on the street during his roughly 90 minutes there.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Steven Mullaney Adam Lally 2 highlights 141 lines spoken
Summary

Officer Mullaney described the snowy, dark response to 34 Fairview Road, emergency aid for John O'Keefe, and his observations of Ms. Read.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

Mullaney said Ms. Read was screaming and appeared distraught; he later testified that Canton control advised officers she was making suicidal statements and that she was brought back to the scene.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

The prosecution displayed Exhibit 25 and photographs marked as Exhibits 9 and 18; Mullaney said they depicted the response conditions and 34 Fairview Road, and used a laser pointer to indicate where he recalled O'Keefe's body.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Redirect Steven Mullaney Adam Lally 2 highlights 10 lines spoken
Summary

Mullaney described differing reactions at the scene and said he saw no activity from 34 Fairview Road or nearby neighbors.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

Mullaney confirmed that three women were at the scene and said he saw no blood on Kerry Roberts's face or hair and did not see her screaming, yelling, or moving around the scene.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Mullaney said he did not see anyone enter or leave 34 Fairview Road, and did not see neighbors or others come outside elsewhere on the street while he was there.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Tim Nuttall Adam Lally 5 highlights 148 lines spoken
Summary

Paramedic Timothy Nuttall described finding John O'Keefe unresponsive in the snow, emergency treatment and injury observations, and a reported statement from an unidentified individual at the scene.

Highlights (5)
Key Moment

Nuttall testified that dispatch reported an unresponsive male in a snowbank at 34 Fairview Road and that he joined Ambulance 1 as an additional senior paramedic.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Show 1 more
Redirect Tim Nuttall Adam Lally 2 highlights 11 lines spoken
Summary

Nuttall said the observed injuries could have many causes and clarified his recollection of repeated statements heard while treating Mr. O'Keefe.

Highlights (2)
Direct Anthony Flematti Adam Lally 2 highlights 79 lines spoken
Summary

Paramedic Anthony Flematti described severe weather, the ambulance response to 34 Fairview Road, and EMS-report timestamps for the call.

Highlights (2)

Day 3

Direct Anthony Flematti Adam Lally 2 highlights 141 lines spoken
Summary

Paramedic Anthony Flematti described the emergency response, resuscitation, medical observations, and a statement he attributed to Ms. Read at the scene.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

Flematti testified that the initial assessment treated the arrest as viable because O'Keefe's limbs and jaw could be moved and the posterior redness did not appear to be the lividity he was assessing.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Redirect Anthony Flematti Adam Lally 3 highlights 20 lines spoken
Summary

Flematti addressed CPR practices, the limits of his knowledge about videos used in cross-examination, and why responders raised a possible vehicle strike with hospital staff.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

Flematti explained that proximity to the roadway, the reported statement, and the patient's condition led responders to raise a possible vehicle strike with hospital staff.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Matthew Kelly Adam Lally 2 highlights 108 lines spoken
Summary

Firefighter/paramedic Matthew Kelly described the snowy response, CPR, and his observations of Mr. O'Keefe during treatment.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

Kelly described CPR and the move into the ambulance; he said he saw no injuries on the ground but later observed a swollen, black-and-blue right eye, blood around the mouth, and that Mr. O'Keefe was cold and stiff.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Redirect Matthew Kelly Adam Lally 3 highlights 10 lines spoken
Summary

Kelly clarified limits on the video-based questioning and the timing of clothing removal in the ambulance.

Highlights (3)
Direct Frank Walsh Adam Lally 3 highlights 94 lines spoken
Summary

Francis Walsh described the snowy response to 34 Fairview Road, his observations of John O'Keefe, and emergency treatment in the ambulance.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

Walsh testified that he first saw John O'Keefe after other responders had placed him on a backboard, estimating the location at roughly 10 feet from the road.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Walsh described observations and treatment in the ambulance, including a right-eye hematoma, blood from the nose, right-arm scratches and lacerations, and intraosseous access for epinephrine and saline.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Walsh identified Exhibit 18 as a fair and accurate portrayal of 34 Fairview Road, apart from the weather conditions, and indicated the general area where he first observed O'Keefe.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Katie McLaughlin Adam Lally 2 highlights 74 lines spoken
Summary

Katie McLaughlin described the response to John O'Keefe, an attributed statement by Karen Read at the scene, and her ambulance observations.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

McLaughlin corrected her earlier answer, saying her observations of O'Keefe's facial injuries were made in the ambulance rather than while he was on the stretcher outside.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶

Day 4

Redirect Katie McLaughlin Adam Lally 2 highlights 43 lines spoken
Summary

McLaughlin described Caitlin Albert as an acquaintance, explained her response duty, and said later knowledge of Albert-family names came from media reports.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

At sidebar, the court barred questioning this witness about the Kearney matter but allowed limited follow-up about her learning names through news or social-media reports.

Open in transcript →
Direct Greg Woodbury Adam Lally 3 highlights 121 lines spoken
Summary

Lieutenant Greg Woodbury described resuscitating Mr. O'Keefe, observing injuries in the ambulance, and later helping transport Karen Read for a Section 12 evaluation.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

Woodbury described finding Mr. O'Keefe lying on his back, parallel to the street and about eight feet from the snowbank, then beginning resuscitation efforts.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

The court sustained an objection and struck Woodbury's partial account of what McLaughlin had reportedly been told; at sidebar, the court required further foundation before allowing the proposed questioning.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Woodbury testified that a later dispatch concerned a Section 12 evaluation of Karen Read, whom he described as distraught and resistant to going to the hospital before she was transported to Good Samaritan.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Daniel Whitley Adam Lally 3 highlights 76 lines spoken
Summary

Paramedic Daniel Whitley described heavy snow, Karen Read's Section 12 transport, and her reported questions and demeanor in the ambulance.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

Whitley described Read as upset during the ambulance transport and said she asked whether the person transported by Ambulance 1 could be alive after being in the snow without a jacket.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Whitley testified that he asked an emergency-room physician whether Read could see John and that ambulance personnel escorted her to the hospital's behavioral hall.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Sidebar Photographs and Rule 14 2 lines spoken
Summary

The court considered defense photographs offered for impeachment and limited questioning about the witness's relationship while excluding the photographs from evidence and the screen.

Day 5

Direct Paul Gallagher Adam Lally 4 highlights 260 lines spoken
Summary

Lieutenant Gallagher described snowy scene processing, the collection of blood and glass, and videos of the scene and police sally port.

Highlights (4)
Cross Paul Gallagher 13 lines spoken
Summary

Gallagher was questioned about blood-sample custody, sally-port access, Canton Police assistance, and photographs showing blood cups near the SUV.

Redirect Paul Gallagher Adam Lally 3 highlights 11 lines spoken
Summary

Gallagher explained Canton Police's limited investigative role and addressed taillight removal and blood-sample handling.

Highlights (3)
Direct Sean Goode Adam Lally 4 highlights 94 lines spoken
Summary

Goode described two early-morning 911 calls, dispatch to 34 Fairview, severe snow conditions, and the admission of the recorded calls.

Highlights (4)
Key Moment

Goode identified Kerry Roberts as the caller who contacted the Canton Police before 5:00 a.m.; the court admitted and the jury heard the recorded call as Exhibit 35.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Goode testified that after the call was transferred to Holbrook, he dispatched officers to 34 Fairview, arranged to respond himself, and notified Lieutenant Gallagher and Detective Sergeant Lank.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Goode explained that the dispatch log was entered manually and could reflect a delay when the officer was busy; a flash drive from cruiser 682 was then marked as Exhibit 41.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Sean Goode Adam Lally 5 highlights 163 lines spoken
Summary

Goode identified cruiser footage at 34 Fairview Road, described Read's condition and subsequent hospital transport, and explained early scene-preservation steps.

Highlights (5)
Key Moment

Goode described Read as confused, hysterical, and in shock; he testified that he stopped questioning her after she said she did not remember whether she had driven there.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Goode testified that dispatch relayed a report from Read's father about suicidal threats, after which officers arranged a Section 12 transport for mental evaluation.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Show 1 more
Key Moment

Goode described sealing the area, obtaining a leaf blower to clear snow, and recording the process; he said the cleared snow exposed blood and a broken drinking glass.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Voir Dire Michael Lank Adam Lally 2 highlights 22 lines spoken
Summary

Lank described limited, civil contact with Brian Albert and denied that Albert-family relationships affected his investigation.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

Lank described his relationship with Brian Albert as civil rather than social, acknowledged past disagreements, and said Albert-family relationships did not affect how he conducted the investigation.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶

Day 6

Cross Sean Goode David Yannetti 23 lines spoken
Summary

Goode was questioned about report face sheets carrying different photographs; limited face-sheet excerpts and a taillight photograph were admitted, and he said he did not know who added the later image.

Redirect Sean Goode Adam Lally 2 highlights 22 lines spoken
Summary

Goode clarified timing concerning Christopher Albert, described worsening snow, and explained how supplemental reports and photographs could affect printed report face sheets.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

Goode explained that a face sheet is the top sheet of a report rather than its narrative, and that later supplemental reports and photographs can affect what appears when it is printed.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Michael Lank Adam Lally 4 highlights 179 lines spoken
Summary

Lank described the initial response at 34 Fairview Road, collection of blood and broken-glass evidence, and a later recovery of red plastic pieces.

Highlights (4)
Key Moment

Lank testified that Trooper Proctor told him the state police would not respond to the scene; the judge sustained an objection when the prosecutor asked why.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Lank described securing the drinking glass and blood drops, transporting them to the Canton Police station, and placing them in temporary evidence for later turnover to state police.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Redirect Michael Lank Adam Lally 2 highlights 21 lines spoken
Summary

Lank said the 2002 altercation did not affect his 2022 response and clarified his observations at 34 Fairview Road.

Highlights (2)
Direct Charles Rae Adam Lally 2 highlights 57 lines spoken
Summary

Rae described a welfare check at One Meadows Ave. after O'Keefe and his girlfriend were taken to the hospital, while cruiser footage of the trip was shown to the jury.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

The court permitted publication of a portion of Exhibit 41, and Rae identified footage from cruiser 682 leaving the police-station sally port and arriving at One Meadows Ave.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶

Day 7

Direct Charles Rae Adam Lally 2 highlights 39 lines spoken
Summary

Rae described the welfare check at One Meadows Ave. as cruiser and Ring-camera videos were played; the court sustained one defense objection to testimony based on his later video review.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

Rae testified that the welfare check at One Meadows Ave. produced no response at the door; he later learned the children were staying with friends or family.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

The Commonwealth played cruiser and Ring-camera videos while Rae identified footage of himself and Sergeant Meehan at the residence and described looking through windows for people or activity.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Michael Camerano Adam Lally 5 highlights 418 lines spoken
Summary

Camerano described January 28 plans with John O’Keefe, the C.F. McCarthy’s visit, and his next-morning return to One Meadows Ave.; text and video exhibits were admitted.

Highlights (5)
Key Moment

The court admitted garage-area footage from One Meadows Ave. as Exhibit 49; Camerano said the footage showed the vehicle movement undertaken so Karen Read could pull into the garage.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

The court admitted C.F. McCarthy's surveillance footage as Exhibit 50, and Camerano identified himself, John O'Keefe, Curt Roberts, and Karen Read in portions of the video.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Show 1 more
Key Moment

Camerano testified that after his wife told him John O'Keefe had not come home, he went to One Meadows Ave., found a garage door open, and tried unsuccessfully to close it before manually securing it.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Cross Michael Camerano Alan Jackson 1 highlights 6 lines spoken
Summary

Camerano described O’Keefe and Read as a close couple, recalling only limited disagreements about spending on the children and no breakup discussion.

Highlights (1)
Key Moment

The court sustained an objection to a broad question characterizing the relationship; after the question was narrowed to the month before O’Keefe’s passing and the preceding day, Camerano answered yes.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Katie Camerano Adam Lally 2 highlights 202 lines spoken
Summary

Camerano described Read’s early-morning calls about O’Keefe and authenticated call and text records admitted as Exhibits 51 and 52.

Highlights (2)
Direct Curt Roberts Adam Lally 3 highlights 154 lines spoken
Summary

Roberts described the C.F. McCarthy’s gathering, identified people in video, and recounted the early-morning call that sent his wife out during the snowstorm.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

Roberts identified John O’Keefe and Michael Camerano in the C.F. McCarthy’s video and confirmed the video was consistent with his recollection of the bar that night.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Roberts testified that the group’s demeanor at the bar was normal, with no arguing, and that he noticed no injuries or dishevelment in O’Keefe’s clothing.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Roberts described being awakened by frantic screaming on his wife’s phone, later learning Karen Read was calling, and said Kerry left during heavy snow after saying John was missing.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Nicholas Kolokithas Adam Lally 3 highlights 123 lines spoken
Summary

Kolokithas described the Waterfall gathering, the destinations discussed afterward, departure conditions, and identifications from surveillance video.

Highlights (3)
Redirect Nicholas Kolokithas Adam Lally 2 highlights 8 lines spoken
Summary

Kolokithas limited his relationship observations to what he saw publicly and qualified his recollection of video footage.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

Kolokithas said he did not recall the apparent play fighting shown in the video, while acknowledging that he appeared to be laughing but was unsure what he was looking at.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Karina Kolokithas Adam Lally 3 highlights 194 lines spoken
Summary

Kolokithas described the Waterfall gathering, said she saw no unusual interaction between Read and O’Keefe, and identified people in video footage of the group leaving.

Highlights (3)

Day 8

Direct Chris Albert Adam Lally 3 highlights 198 lines spoken
Summary

Chris Albert described the Waterfall gathering, identified John O’Keefe and Karen Read in surveillance footage, and recounted learning the next morning that John had died.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

Albert described discussion of possible after-hours pizza-making at D&E Pizza and going to Brian's house, while saying he declined opening his shop that night.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Cross Chris Albert David Yannetti 1 highlights 12 lines spoken
Summary

Cross-examination explored Chris Albert's Canton and law-enforcement connections; the judge limited part of the defense's proposed bias inquiry.

Highlights (1)
Key Moment

After a sidebar, the judge sustained the Commonwealth's objection to further questioning about older family connections and directed defense counsel to focus on two identified areas for cross-examination.

Open in transcript →
Cross Chris Albert 25 lines spoken
Summary

Chris Albert was questioned about a photograph with Kenny Berkowitz and his relationships with Canton law-enforcement figures, including Michael Lank and Michael Proctor.

Cross Chris Albert David Yannetti 1 highlights 19 lines spoken
Summary

Chris Albert's cross-examination focused on Waterfall timing, text messages with John O’ Keefe, photographs at John O’ Keefe's property, and his account of returning home.

Highlights (1)
Key Moment

The court directed that the text excerpt be marked only for identification because the full exchange was already in Exhibit 48, then instructed jurors on authenticating electronic communications before considering them.

Open in transcript →
Redirect Chris Albert Adam Lally 3 highlights 27 lines spoken
Summary

Chris Albert clarified timing and injury observations, then described a joking nickname and relationship with John.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

Albert explained that “Mr. Nebbercracker” was a joking nickname for John arising from an earlier lawn incident and said John later found the fence photographs funny.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Julie Albert Adam Lally 3 highlights 222 lines spoken
Summary

Julie Albert recounted the Waterfall gathering, her early departure, and learning the next morning at Fairview Road that something had happened to John O’Keefe.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

Julie Albert described John O’Keefe and Karen Read arriving at the Waterfall shortly before 11:00 p.m.; she said Read stopped at the table with a glass containing a clear liquid.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Julie Albert said she left about 10 to 15 minutes after O’Keefe and Read arrived because of a migraine, and she reported no observed injuries or arguments during the time she was there.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Cross Julie Albert 14 lines spoken
Summary

Ms. Albert was questioned about her calls with Courtney Proctor around the arrest and arraignment; she did not recall the details after reviewing a document.

Day 9

Sidebar Sidebar Addresses Grand-Jury References, Security, Schedule, and Kearney Motion 1 highlights 7 lines spoken
Summary

The court addressed prior grand-jury references, security measures, the Memorial Day week schedule, and a later hearing on the Commonwealth's motion concerning Aidan Kearney.

Highlights (1)
Key Moment

The judge scheduled a later hearing on the Commonwealth's motion to exclude Aidan Kearney during certain witnesses' testimony, after the current witness finished.

Open in transcript →
Redirect Julie Albert Adam Lally 3 highlights 22 lines spoken
Summary

Julie Albert addressed her contacts with the Proctors, her cooperation with other troopers, and her timing observations.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

Albert agreed that her 67 calls with Ms. Proctor were less frequent than her calls with other friends and said she did not recall discussing the case with Ms. Proctor or Trooper Proctor outside her interview.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Albert said she voluntarily attended at least two interviews with other troopers, answered their questions, and provided her phone without a threatened search warrant.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Nicole Albert Adam Lally 3 highlights 268 lines spoken
Summary

Nicole Albert recounted the Waterfall gathering, the later gathering at 34 Fairview Road, and the next morning’s police contact; eight exterior photographs of the home were admitted.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

Nicole Albert described the Waterfall gathering, including the arrival of John O’Keefe and Karen Read, and said she left with her husband and daughter shortly before midnight.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Albert testified about the people who gathered at 34 Fairview Road and gave her approximate order of departure, placing Caitlin's departure closest to 2:00 a.m.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Eight exterior photographs of 34 Fairview Road were admitted as Exhibits 58 through 65 after Albert identified the front yard as a fair and accurate portrayal from around January 29, 2022.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Redirect Nicole Albert Adam Lally 3 highlights 17 lines spoken
Summary

Nicole Albert denied answering Jennifer McCabe’s calls, said she could not interpret Cellebrite call data, described rehoming Chloe, and characterized a brief gap in her observations at 34 Fairview.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

Albert said she had never seen a Cellebrite extraction report and could not interpret whether a listed answered call had actually been answered or gone to voicemail.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Brian Albert Adam Lally 4 highlights 407 lines spoken
Summary

Brian Albert recounted the Waterfall gathering, events at 34 Fairview Road, and the early-morning police response; he testified that John O’Keefe and Karen Read never entered his house.

Highlights (4)
Key Moment

The Commonwealth played portions of the Waterfall video marked as Exhibit 53. Albert said the video fairly portrayed the interior, but gave qualified identifications because the image was grainy.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

The court sustained a defense objection and directed the Commonwealth to move on unless it laid a foundation after Albert began describing what McCabe said when she entered his bedroom.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Albert identified the exterior photographs previously marked as Exhibits 58 through 65 as depictions of the front yard and house at 34 Fairview Road, and the court permitted their publication.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Sidebar Recross Text Message Scope 9 lines spoken
Summary

The defense sought permission to ask about text messages with Courtney Proctor on recross, and the judge sustained the Commonwealth's scope objection while also instructing counsel to avoid repetitive witness identification.

Sidebar Cellebrite Call Report Use 2 lines spoken
Summary

The parties discussed using a Cellebrite report to refresh recollection about calls, and the judge limited the inquiry to unanswered calls and directed that the report be marked for identification.

Day 10

Redirect Brian Albert Adam Lally 5 highlights 70 lines spoken
Summary

Brian Albert addressed the basement, bulkhead, phone records, and again testified that John O'Keefe never entered his house.

Highlights (5)
Key Moment

Albert testified that neither he nor anyone he saw entered the basement after returning from the Waterfall; he said he did not know whether Brian Higgins entered it.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

The judge sustained defense objections to questions about what Albert understood had happened outside the house that morning, directing the prosecutor to rephrase before sustaining a further question.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

After allowing a question about prior orders concerning Albert's physical phone, the judge struck Albert's statement that access had been denied on multiple occasions.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Show 1 more
Direct Caitlin Albert Adam Lally 2 highlights 122 lines spoken
Summary

Caitlin Albert described the Waterfall gathering and testified that neither John O'Keefe nor Karen Read entered 34 Fairview Road while she was there.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

Albert testified that the Waterfall gathering was light-hearted and that she observed no fighting or tension involving the group, John O'Keefe, or Karen Read.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Cross Caitlin Albert David Yannetti 1 highlights 6 lines spoken
Summary

Caitlin Albert said Trooper Proctor interviewed her in August 2023 and acknowledged limits on what she observed inside 34 Fairview.

Highlights (1)
Key Moment

At sidebar, the judge limited further questioning about Albert's relationship with Katie McLaughlin and did not permit the defense to introduce photographs on the showing then before the court; the judge said she would review her notes on Katie McLaughlin.

Open in transcript →
Procedural Arguments on Proposed Impeachment Photographs 2 highlights 2 lines spoken
Summary

Defense sought to use photographs to impeach Katie McLaughlin and show bias; the Commonwealth opposed, and the judge deferred a decision until the next morning.

Highlights (2)
Quote

“And the witness in this case is Ms. Albert, not Ms. McCabe.”

The Commonwealth argued that the proposed bias inquiry concerned someone other than the witness at issue.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

The Commonwealth opposed the request, disputing authentication and arguing that the proposed material did not establish impeachment or bias of the witness then at issue.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶

Day 11

Redirect Caitlin Albert Adam Lally 2 highlights 29 lines spoken
Summary

Caitlin Albert clarified limited Proctor-family contact and said snowy conditions and her route to Tristin's car limited what she observed outside 34 Fairview Road.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

Albert said her attention was directed toward avoiding a slip in the snow and toward Tristin's car, and that she did not have reason to look toward the flagpole area of the front yard.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Sarah Levinson Adam Lally 2 highlights 173 lines spoken
Summary

Levinson described the gathering at 34 Fairview Road, testified that no one else entered while she was there, and said she could not see the house or lawn after leaving.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

At sidebar, the judge ruled that Julie Nagel's statement would not come in through Levinson, while allowing testimony about the event without the statement itself.

Open in transcript →
Redirect Sarah Levinson Adam Lally 2 highlights 12 lines spoken
Summary

Levinson clarified that she observed only the grass beside the front walkway when leaving 34 Fairview and explained why she declined a defense interview.

Highlights (2)
Direct Julie Nagel Adam Lally 3 highlights 226 lines spoken
Summary

Juliana Nagel described the gathering at 34 Fairview Road, a black SUV she saw from inside, and an unidentified dark object near the flagpole as she left.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

Nagel used Exhibits 71 through 73 to indicate the front door, her brother's truck, and the three locations where she had observed a black SUV from inside the house.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Nagel testified that while leaving in the McCabes' vehicle, she noticed a dark object near the flagpole but could not identify it because it was dark, snowing heavily, and the observation was brief.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Sidebar Sidebar on Expert Scheduling and Witness Testimony 1 highlights 5 lines spoken
Summary

Counsel discussed scheduling Ms. Kun's testimony for the next day and clarified that the prosecutor had not previously discussed the current witness's description of an object with her.

Highlights (1)
Key Moment

The prosecutor advised that Ms. Kun from the UC Davis lab needed to testify the next day because she was flying out, and the court asked whether she would be a rebuttal or case-in-chief witness.

Open in transcript →

Day 12

Direct Allison McCabe Adam Lally 2 highlights 150 lines spoken
Summary

Alli McCabe described picking up Colin Albert at 34 Fairview Road, driving him home, and later identifying phone-message screenshots.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

McCabe testified that Colin Albert came out after she texted that she had arrived at 34 Fairview Road, appeared normal and uninjured, and was driven directly to his home.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Redirect Allison McCabe Adam Lally 3 highlights 29 lines spoken
Summary

McCabe addressed the reliability of phone and Life360 records, then testified about harassment directed at Colin Albert and her family.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

McCabe said the Life360 alerts shown to her included prompts to turn on WiFi, which she said affected timestamp accuracy; she also said travel from Canton High School to her home could not take two minutes in the stated conditions.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Over defense objections, the court allowed testimony about harassment. McCabe said Colin Albert was being harassed over claims that he was at the house, and described people coming to her family's house and emailing her school before requesting a moment.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶

Day 13

Sidebar Sidebar on Proposed Videos and Voir Dire 2 highlights 1 lines spoken
Summary

The court deferred a dispute over two proposed videos for jury-out review, voir dire of the witness, and argument.

Highlights (2)
Quote

“There is no evidence that any fight ever occurred between himself and this group.”

The Commonwealth's relevance argument was that the videos did not establish an actual fight or support impeachment.

Open in transcript →
Key Moment

Counsel disputed whether two videos could be used to challenge the witness, with the Commonwealth arguing they were irrelevant character evidence and the defense asserting they bore on the witness's claim never to have been in a fight.

Open in transcript →
Procedural Evidentiary Argument Over Colin Albert Videos 1 highlights 2 lines spoken
Summary

The parties disputed whether two videos involving Colin Albert were relevant to the defense's investigation-adequacy and third-party culprit theories; the court recessed to review the flash drives.

Highlights (1)
Key Moment

The Commonwealth opposed use of the videos as irrelevant and prejudicial speculation, arguing there was no evidence tying Colin Albert to John O'Keefe's death.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Redirect Colin Albert Adam Lally 3 highlights 75 lines spoken
Summary

Albert addressed his limited contact with Trooper Michael Proctor, the video dispute, online harassment, and again denied seeing John O'Keefe at 34 Fairview Road.

Highlights (3)
Direct Matthew McCabe Adam Lally 5 highlights 335 lines spoken
Summary

McCabe described the group’s movements from the Waterfall to 34 Fairview, his observations of a dark SUV outside the house, and waking to screams the next morning.

Highlights (5)
Key Moment

McCabe described the group’s invitation to continue to Brian and Nicole’s house, then recounted Jennifer McCabe’s calls giving John O'Keefe directions to 34 Fairview.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

McCabe testified that he saw a dark SUV outside 34 Fairview on three occasions, each time farther up Fairview Road, but did not see anyone outside or inside it.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

The judge sustained an objection to a question asking McCabe to distinguish whether tire marks came from the dark SUV or another vehicle; McCabe later said he did not see either vehicle move.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

The Commonwealth published Exhibits 71, 72, and 73, photographs McCabe identified as depicting 34 Fairview, and he marked the positions where he said he saw the SUV.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Show 1 more

Day 14

Redirect Matthew McCabe Adam Lally 3 highlights 33 lines spoken
Summary

McCabe denied coordinating statements, clarified limits on his SUV observations, and explained a February 1 text about snow around the scene.

Highlights (3)
Direct Jennifer McCabe Adam Lally 2 highlights 764 lines spoken
Summary

McCabe described O’Keefe’s trip toward Fairview, text and call records, the morning search, and the response after he was found.

Highlights (2)

Day 15

Day 16

Direct Kerry Roberts Adam Lally 5 highlights 474 lines spoken
Summary

Roberts described the search for O’Keefe, the discovery on Fairview Road, emergency aid, and her observations of Read’s vehicle.

Highlights (5)
Key Moment

Roberts described receiving early-morning calls from Karen Read, including a call in which Read said John was dead and later expressed concern that he might have been hit by a plow.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Roberts testified that, while the group searched O’Keefe’s home, Read pointed out damage to her taillight and asked whether she might have hit him; Roberts said she did not think Read had hit him.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Roberts described Read identifying O’Keefe on Fairview Road, getting out of the vehicle, and running toward a mound of snow that Roberts soon recognized as his body.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Show 1 more
Key Moment

At sidebar, defense counsel requested an opportunity to review a proposed enhanced video before it was shown; the court permitted counsel to review it before further presentation.

Open in transcript →

Day 17

Direct Brian Higgins Adam Lally 2 highlights 479 lines spoken
Summary

Brian Higgins described his January 28-29 movements, his brief time at 34 Fairview Road, and text-message exchanges with John O'Keefe and Karen Read that were admitted into evidence.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

Higgins testified that he arrived at 34 Fairview Road, parked his Jeep near the mailbox, stayed briefly in the kitchen and living-room areas, and did not see John O'Keefe or Karen Read there.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Cross Brian Higgins Alan Jackson 1 highlights 108 lines spoken
Summary

Brian Higgins was questioned about his relationships, January 29 phone and keycard records, and the extraction and later disposal of his phone.

Highlights (1)
Key Moment

The judge sustained objections to questions about alleged prior violence by Brian Albert, ruling the proposed evidence too remote for the defense's stated third-party-culpability theory.

Open in transcript →

Day 18

Redirect Brian Higgins Adam Lally 4 highlights 84 lines spoken
Summary

Higgins addressed his communications with Ms. Read, January 29 records, and his later disposal of his phone before denying he saw John O'Keefe by Fairview Road.

Highlights (4)
Key Moment

Higgins testified that he kept the text communications with Ms. Read to himself because he was embarrassed and believed they did not reflect well on him as John O'Keefe's friend.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

The judge allowed limited questions about iPhone call timing, but sustained objections to the form of later questions seeking Higgins's explanation of earlier testimony.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Higgins described receiving a subpoena concerning his phone, learning that the request for the physical phone had been denied, and later throwing away the broken phone with other trash.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Justin Rice Adam Lally 3 highlights 103 lines spoken
Summary

Dr. Rice described O'Keefe's emergency treatment and recorded death declaration; Read's hospital records were admitted as Exhibit No. 106.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

Dr. Rice described charted physical findings including a laceration near the right orbital ridge, surrounding swelling or contusion, and superficial abrasions on the right forearm.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

The court admitted Karen Read's redacted Good Samaritan medical records as Exhibit No. 106; Dr. Rice later read an alcohol-screen result of 93 milligrams per deciliter from the chart.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Gary Faller Adam Lally 4 highlights 63 lines spoken
Summary

Pathologist Garrey Faller described Good Samaritan's alcohol-testing procedures and testified that Karen Read's chart reported 93 milligrams per deciliter.

Highlights (4)
Direct Nicholas Roberts Adam Lally 2 highlights 95 lines spoken
Summary

Toxicologist Nicholas Roberts testified about converting Karen Read's hospital serum result and calculated a retrograde blood-alcohol range of 0.125 to 0.292 gram percent.

Highlights (2)
Redirect Nicholas Roberts Adam Lally 2 highlights 8 lines spoken
Summary

Roberts said a 5:00 a.m. assumed last drink would significantly affect his calculation, while a 1:00 a.m. drink would not.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

Roberts testified that moving the assumed last drink from 12:45 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. would not significantly affect his calculation, while a 5:00 a.m. last drink would.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Michael Trotta Adam Lally 2 highlights 47 lines spoken
Summary

Trotta authenticated Canton’s January 2022 plow plan and identified the Fairview Road route and assigned vehicles.

Highlights (2)
Direct Louis Jutras Adam Lally 2 highlights 70 lines spoken
Summary

Canton IT manager Louis Jutras described retrieving municipal surveillance footage; library footage was admitted as Exhibit No. 110 and shown to the jury.

Highlights (2)
Sidebar Sidebar - Witness Scheduling and Exhibit Redactions 2 highlights 24 lines spoken
Summary

The court addressed next-week witness scheduling, defense expert disclosure, and redactions to Exhibit No. 48.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

The court addressed the anticipated appearance of Mx. Vaillier out of order on Monday because of stated availability constraints.

Open in transcript →
Key Moment

The court directed correction of redactions and stated that the unredacted Exhibit No. 48 would be marked for identification rather than entered as the redacted exhibit.

Open in transcript →

Day 19

Direct Kevin O'Hara Adam Lally 4 highlights 194 lines spoken
Summary

O'Hara described SERT's blizzard search, recovery of taillight pieces and a sneaker, documentation, and limits on the search and GPS mapping.

Highlights (4)
Key Moment

O'Hara testified that the search located multiple red and clear taillight pieces and a sneaker between the flagpole and fire hydrant, with the items found near the curb at ground level.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

O'Hara said the search was suspended after the team went beyond the recovered items without finding more evidence; he offered to return in daylight or after snow melt because there was a good chance not everything had been found.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Two GPS-based maps were admitted as Exhibits 135 and 136 after O'Hara explained that the marked locations could be offset within the handheld GPS range of error.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Redirect Kevin O'Hara Adam Lally 3 highlights 14 lines spoken
Summary

O'Hara clarified SERT's records, cruiser GPS timing data, and the photographing—but not measuring—of recovered items.

Highlights (3)
Direct Maureen Hartnett Adam Lally 4 highlights 527 lines spoken
Summary

Hartnett described her forensic work on the Lexus SUV and clothing items, including a human-hair determination, reported blood-testing results, and a prior proficiency-test remediation.

Highlights (4)
Key Moment

Hartnett testified that she examined the Lexus SUV for biological material, collected apparent glass, paint standards, an apparent hair, and the taillight housing, and found negative blood-screening results on the specified exterior areas.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Hartnett identified the apparent hair as consistent with a human hair with a root, described separating it for DNA handling, and explained the limits of her body's-origin determination.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Hartnett described blood testing and other collections from the sweatshirt, orange tee shirt, jeans, and sneakers; she testified that screening and confirmatory tests were positive on the clothing stains tested, while one sneaker stain screened positive for blood.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Ashley Vallier Adam Lally 3 highlights 196 lines spoken
Summary

Vallier described physical-match analysis, authenticated photographs of laboratory items, and testified that an assembled piece matched the taillight; defense preserved a foundation objection at sidebar.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

Vallier explained her physical-match process: documenting questioned pieces separately, comparing photographs and pieces under a stereo zoom microscope, and confirming possible fits.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶

Day 20

Direct Ashley Vallier Adam Lally 3 highlights 182 lines spoken
Summary

Vallier described mechanical-fit analysis and testified that reconstructed Piece 1 and the taillight housing had once been part of the same larger unit.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

Vallier described documenting and comparing fragments, including bringing potentially consistent pieces together to determine whether there was an actual mechanical fit.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Cross Ashley Vallier David Yannetti 4 lines spoken
Summary

Vallier testified that the laboratory received Submission 7 from Trooper Michael Proctor on March 14, 2022, described limits on her knowledge of earlier handling, and confirmed a missing section in the taillight reconstruction.

Redirect Ashley Vallier Adam Lally 2 highlights 10 lines spoken
Summary

Vallier described her stereo-zoom examination of debris, identified Maureen Hartnett as the transferor to her unit, and reaffirmed that fitted pieces fit the taillight housing.

Highlights (2)
Direct Christina Hanley Adam Lally 1 highlights 88 lines spoken
Summary

Forensic scientist Christina Hanley testified that six recovered glass pieces physically matched a drinking glass and gave qualified comparison results for other glass and plastic debris against taillight material.

Highlights (1)
Key Moment

Hanley testified that clear and red plastic from debris recovered from clothing was consistent with corresponding taillight material, while stating it could also have originated from another source with the same characteristics.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Cross Christina Hanley Alan Jackson 1 highlights 4 lines spoken
Summary

Hanley clarified the limits of several glass comparisons, including that Item 7-14 had no physical match with the cup or Item 7-12 pieces; the court deferred admission of a chain-of-custody document.

Highlights (1)
Key Moment

At sidebar, the court declined to admit the VV chain-of-custody document at that time and said it would review the request further.

Open in transcript →

Day 21

Direct Yuri Bukhenik Adam Lally 5 highlights 228 lines spoken
Summary

Bukhenik described snowmelt searches and recovered items at 34 Fairview Road, while the court admitted extensive photo and physical exhibits and addressed missing Ring video and DNA-swab testimony.

Highlights (5)
Key Moment

Exhibit 541, an audio excerpt of a June 9, 2022 conversation with Ms. Read, was admitted and played after the judge instructed jurors on evaluating alleged defendant statements.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Show 1 more
Key Moment

At sidebar, the judge limited testimony about buccal swabs to the fact that Bukhenik and Proctor voluntarily provided them, excluding explanation based on forensic results.

Open in transcript →

Day 22

Redirect Yuri Bukhenik Adam Lally 3 highlights 52 lines spoken
Summary

Bukhenik addressed the mirrored sally port video, denied handling the taillight area, and explained his initial report to the medical examiner.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

Bukhenik explained that he reported the information then known, including information relayed by first responders and broken glass collected by Canton Police, to the medical examiner's office.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Michael Proctor Adam Lally 3 highlights 612 lines spoken
Summary

Proctor described the evidence collection and vehicle processing, then acknowledged derogatory personal texts about Read while denying they affected his investigation.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

Proctor described observing O'Keefe's injuries and one sneaker at the hospital; after a sidebar, the judge allowed testimony about prior pedestrian-crash footwear observations as relevant to investigative steps.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Proctor testified that he saw large pieces missing from the Lexus's right-rear taillight at Read's parents' home and that the vehicle was towed to the Canton Police sally port.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Cross Michael Proctor Alan Jackson 1 highlights 25 lines spoken
Summary

Proctor acknowledged unprofessional texts about Read and Mr. Yanetti, while denying that the messages affected his investigation or reflected a predetermined suspect.

Highlights (1)
Key Moment

After sidebar argument over the text-message extraction and redaction of the word “confidential,” the court marked Exhibit 567 over the Commonwealth's objection.

Open in transcript →

Day 23

Redirect Michael Proctor Adam Lally 2 highlights 174 lines spoken
Summary

The court struck Proctor's initial answer, then the Commonwealth used redirect to address claims of bias and restate Proctor's account of the investigation and evidence.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

After the question was reframed, Proctor testified that he and other troopers conducted the investigation with an open mind and that later information indicated no one else was responsible for Mr. O'Keefe's death.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Proctor described the information he said investigators had gathered on January 29 and stated his belief that Ms. Read backed into Mr. O'Keefe with her vehicle.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Brian Tully Adam Lally 5 highlights 179 lines spoken
Summary

Tully described oversight of the investigation, the SERT search and recovery of a sneaker and plastic pieces at 34 Fairview Road, and evidence handling; three physical-evidence exhibits were admitted.

Highlights (5)
Key Moment

Tully testified that, because of an appearance of conflict involving the homeowner's relationship to the Canton Police Department, Canton Police would step back and the State Police would conduct the investigation, with Canton Police providing support.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Tully said he discussed Trooper Proctor's personal-phone messages with him, expressed displeasure with their unprofessional content, and reported the matter up the chain of command.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Tully described directing a seven-member SERT search of the snowbank near 34 Fairview Road for a shoe and potential taillight pieces, and photographing recovered items before they were bagged.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Show 1 more
Key Moment

After a foundation objection to the weather records, the court directed the Commonwealth to build its foundation; the records were then marked JJJ for Identification.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶

Day 24

Direct Brian Tully Adam Lally 2 highlights 284 lines spoken
Summary

Tully described surveillance video and phone-location records, explained their limits, and authenticated Exhibits 572 through 576.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

The court sustained objections to questions seeking Tully's explanation of abrasions and his proposed opinion that marks on John O'Keefe were consistent with recovered items.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Tully explained that call-detail records can support general location determinations but not an exact phone location without additional engineering records, then described CSLI and ranging maps for the phone ending in 9554.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Cross Brian Tully Alan Jackson 16 lines spoken
Summary

Tully was cross-examined on the unsearched house, sally port video, discrepancies in taillight-plastic documentation, and the limits of his cell-phone analysis; Exhibit 577 was admitted.

Redirect Brian Tully Adam Lally 4 highlights 41 lines spoken
Summary

Tully addressed the Ford Edge account, video recording behavior, evidence-bag notes, and limits of phone-location records; he gave a qualified 5:18 location opinion.

Highlights (4)
Key Moment

Tully explained why he considered the account of a Ford Edge outside 34 Fairview unreliable, citing changed locations, the witness's self-reported color blindness, and a time conflict with the police arrival.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Tully said the limited Verizon entries did not permit a route-of-travel analysis and gave a qualified opinion that the defendant, vehicle, and phone were on Washington Street outside Temple Beth Abraham at 5:18.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct J. Ryan Gallerani Adam Lally 2 highlights 24 lines spoken
Summary

Gallerani described collecting, securing, and shipping buccal-swab samples from Sergeant Bukhenik and Trooper Proctor.

Highlights (2)
Direct Nicholas Bradford Adam Lally 3 highlights 90 lines spoken
Summary

Bradford testified that a taillight extract was a three-person DNA mixture, with very strong support for inclusion of John O'Keefe and support for exclusion of Yuriy Bukhenik and Michael Proctor; the hair sample did not yield a usable STR profile.

Highlights (3)
Direct Tess Chart Adam Lally 2 highlights 66 lines spoken
Summary

Forensic DNA analyst Tess Chart testified that hair sample EO1 was consistent with John O'Keefe's mitochondrial DNA profile and supported an exclusion of at least 99.895 percent of the population.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

Chart testified that the mitochondrial profile from hair sample EO1 was consistent with John O'Keefe's profile and that he could not be excluded as a possible contributor.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Chart testified that the profile was absent from the listed EMPOP databases and described an exclusion of at least 99.895 percent of the population using a 95-percent confidence interval.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Andre Porto Adam Lally 6 highlights 170 lines spoken
Summary

DNA analyst Andre Porto reported comparison results for case samples and explained testing limits, including DNA-transfer and mixture-interpretation limits.

Highlights (6)
Show 2 more

Day 25

Direct Joseph Paul Adam Lally 2 highlights 582 lines spoken
Summary

Trooper Joseph Paul presented crash-reconstruction evidence, including scene mapping, Lexus testing, and vehicle-control-history data that he said contained a point consistent with a pedestrian strike.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

Paul testified that the airbag control module produced no recovered data or events and explained why he said that result was not abnormal in pedestrian crashes.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Paul interpreted the 12,629B vehicle-control-history event as a reverse maneuver that reached 24.2 miles per hour and testified that one point in the data appeared consistent with a pedestrian strike.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Procedural Arguments on Defense Request to Exclude Crash-Reconstruction Opinion 2 highlights 9 lines spoken
Summary

The court deferred ruling on a defense request to exclude a crash-reconstruction opinion and requested the video and photographs for review.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

The Commonwealth opposed exclusion, characterized the opinion as within the witness’s expertise, and acknowledged that the related disclosure should have been provided in hindsight.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶

Day 26

Redirect Joseph Paul Adam Lally 2 highlights 77 lines spoken
Summary

Trooper Paul restated his reconstruction opinion, explained his use of Techstream and odometer data, and acknowledged limits on calculating the sideswipe-style crash.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

Paul testified that he did not have a calculation for this sideswipe-style pedestrian crash and said applying the available formula would underestimate the striking vehicle's speed.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Paul said he used odometer mileage rather than key cycles to place the triggering event and explained that Techstream records only information related to triggers.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Ian Whiffin Adam Lally 5 highlights 280 lines spoken
Summary

Cellebrite expert Ian Whiffin testified that a 2:27 browser-state timestamp showed tab focus, not the timing of the cold-related searches, and described his opinion that the records were not user-deleted.

Highlights (5)
Key Moment

Whiffin testified that two searches were recorded in the mobile Safari plist at 6:23:51 and 6:24:18 and, in his view, did not successfully load into history.db.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Whiffin testified that the browser-state timestamp reflected when a tab took focus, not necessarily when the search occurred, and described the timing he attributed to the searches.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Whiffin gave his opinion that the records at issue could not have been selectively deleted by a user and instead were later removed through a device cleanup process.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Show 1 more
Direct Nicholas Guarino Adam Lally 4 highlights 246 lines spoken
Summary

Trooper Nicholas Guarino described failed Lexus data-recovery efforts, disputed an interpretation of Jennifer McCabe's phone data, and authenticated phone-message and call-log records.

Highlights (4)
Key Moment

Guarino described efforts to recover data from Read's Lexus infotainment system. He said the trim level remained unsupported by Berla and that, according to AG Speake, the later chip-off produced no recovered data from the infotainment system or telematics module.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Guarino disputed Richard Green's interpretation of Jennifer McCabe's extraction, explaining his view that the cited Safari and call-log material came from WAL files and that the records remained elsewhere in the phone data.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶

Day 27

Procedural Arguments Over Defense Experts' Fourth Conclusion 2 highlights 6 lines spoken
Summary

The court reserved a Thursday decision on a disputed defense-expert conclusion and requested scheduling information if Dr. Russell is allowed to testify.

Highlights (2)
Quote

“I do have an issue with number four. I don't -- I don't think they're qualified to testify to -- I don't think either of them is qualified to testify to that. That's more of an area of forensic pathology.”

The Commonwealth stated its qualification-based objection to the fourth reported conclusion.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

The Commonwealth challenged whether the defense experts were qualified to offer the report's fourth conclusion, while the defense argued the conclusion was within their expertise.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶

Day 28

Direct Nicholas Guarino Adam Lally 2 highlights 275 lines spoken
Summary

Guarino presented phone, voicemail, and location-data evidence; Judge Cannone excluded a Google search for DUI attorneys from the Commonwealth's case-in-chief.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

Guarino testified that Read's phone auto-connected to O'Keefe's password-protected home Wi-Fi at 12:36 a.m.; he also described more than 50 calls from her phone to O'Keefe's phone and eight voicemails recovered from his phone.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Redirect Nicholas Guarino Adam Lally 3 highlights 41 lines spoken
Summary

Guarino defended his interpretation of disputed phone-search and WAL-file data, then testified about search-related cookies found on the defendant's phone.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

Guarino testified that later Cellebrite software versions displayed an item absent from his earlier report and gave his opinion that McCabe's disputed searches occurred at 6:23 and 6:24 a.m., rather than 2:27 a.m.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Guarino testified that WAL-file deletion was an automated database function and said he did not believe the call-log records shown to him were user-initiated deletions.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

After the recess, Guarino testified that cookies associated with searches and visited websites were found even though related search items were not present on the defendant's phone.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Renee Stonebridge Adam Lally 3 highlights 60 lines spoken
Summary

Dr. Stonebridge testified that John O'Keefe's brain injuries were acute and traumatic, while limiting her opinion on the force or mechanism involved; the court then admitted his medical records and warned jurors about graphic photographs.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

Dr. Stonebridge testified that she found a subarachnoid hemorrhage and no aneurysm or natural disease state that she believed could have caused a vessel rupture.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Irini Scordi-Bello Adam Lally 2 highlights 183 lines spoken
Summary

Dr. Scordi-Bello testified that John O'Keefe died from blunt head injuries and hypothermia, with the manner of death listed as undetermined.

Highlights (2)
Key Moment

Dr. Scordi-Bello identified blunt impact injuries of the head and hypothermia as the cause of death on John O'Keefe's death certificate, while listing the manner of death as undetermined.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

The medical examiner testified that the head injuries preceded hypothermia in her opinion and could have left Mr. O'Keefe unable to reach a warmer environment.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶

Day 29

Redirect Irini Scordi-Bello Adam Lally 3 highlights 21 lines spoken
Summary

Dr. Scordi-Bello discussed possible injury mechanisms and said she could not determine how the injuries occurred, though a single fall impact could account for the skull and brain injuries.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

Dr. Scordi-Bello testified that facial injuries could result from a fall or contact with a blunt object, and that an isolated abrasion near the head laceration was not typical of dragging but remained possible.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Dr. Scordi-Bello said she did not know how the head injuries occurred, while stating that a single impact in a fall could cause the observed skull and brain injuries.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Brian Loughran David Yannetti 8 lines spoken
Summary

Snowplow driver Brian Loughran described repeated Fairview passes, said he saw nothing near the flagpole before later seeing a Ford Edge there, and testified that State Police first contacted him in 2023.

Cross Brian Loughran Adam Lally 3 highlights 121 lines spoken
Summary

The Commonwealth tested Brian Loughran's vehicle identification, timing, and personal knowledge, and the judge excluded proposed questioning about a remote 2015 collision.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

Loughran said his understanding of where Mr. O'Keefe's body was found came from police-related information and news coverage, rather than personal observation.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

After a sidebar, the judge excluded proposed questioning about a 2015 pedestrian collision as too remote, while permitting questioning about the basketball hoop.

Open in transcript →
Recross Brian Loughran Adam Lally 1 highlights 14 lines spoken
Summary

The Commonwealth challenged Brian Loughran's 5:00 a.m. Fairview timeline; he said he was monitoring Fairview from Cedarcrest while plowing nearby streets.

Highlights (1)
Key Moment

On recross, the Commonwealth pressed Brian Loughran to reconcile his stated route timing with his assertion that he was on Fairview Road at about 5:00 a.m.; Loughran explained that he monitored Fairview from nearby streets and identified Cedarcrest as the road from which he was looking at Fairview.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Cross Marie Russell Adam Lally 4 highlights 135 lines spoken
Summary

The Commonwealth challenged Dr. Russell's materials, report preparation, and the limits of her animal-injury opinion on Mr. O'Keefe's right arm.

Highlights (4)
Key Moment

Dr. Russell maintained that Mr. O'Keefe's arm injuries did not look like blunt-force injuries, while acknowledging limits on identifying the animal, breed, or location.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Richard Green David Yannetti 20 lines spoken
Summary

Digital-forensics expert Richard Green gave opinions on phone-location data, a Safari search artifact, and deleted call records; the court limited one opinion's phrasing and required redaction of a call-log exhibit.

Cross Richard Green Adam Lally 5 highlights 109 lines spoken
Summary

The Commonwealth challenged Richard Green's digital-evidence analysis; he acknowledged that further testing changed one interpretation in his prior affidavit while defending his search-timing opinion.

Highlights (5)
Key Moment

Green acknowledged that he had no specific Cellebrite certification and that reports by Jessica Hyde and Ian Whiffin disagreed with his opinion about the phone searches.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Green said further testing changed his view that the "how long to digest food" item was a user search; he now believed it was probably an automatic suggestion.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Green described a three-minute Waze-related offset as a possible explanation for differences between Apple Health and location data, while saying he had not decoded Waze.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Show 1 more

Day 30

Direct Frank Sheridan Elizabeth Little 13 lines spoken
Summary

Forensic pathologist Frank Sheridan testified that O'Keefe's arm injuries did not resemble a direct vehicle impact, were consistent with an animal attack with qualifications, and that the fatal head injury was not consistent with a fall onto grass.

Cross Frank Sheridan Adam Lally 4 highlights 102 lines spoken
Summary

Sheridan confirmed the limits of his review, agreed with pathology findings, and maintained his animal-injury opinion while acknowledging limits on identifying, locating, and timing the injuries.

Highlights (4)
Key Moment

Sheridan agreed with Dr. Scordi-Bellow's stated cause-of-death determination and said neuropathology photographs independently confirmed the findings described in Dr. Stonebridge's report.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Sheridan said he could not identify the animal or its breed, determine where the arm injuries occurred, or precisely date them beyond describing them as fresh.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Sheridan testified that a vehicle strike followed by a head impact on asphalt could cause a skull fracture if those events occurred, while maintaining that he did not think that was what happened.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Cross Daniel Wolfe Adam Lally 5 highlights 148 lines spoken
Summary

The prosecutor tested the scope and documentation of Wolfe's reconstruction work, including materials he had not reviewed and limits on his testing and EDR analysis.

Highlights (5)
Key Moment

Wolfe testified that his team had preconditioned tested tail-lamp assemblies to about 28 degrees, but said that condition was not explicitly stated in the report.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Wolfe testified that he had not been told Mr. O'Keefe's DNA had been recovered from the taillight assembly, despite the report's discussion of an expectation of blood or DNA if an arm or head contacted it.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Wolfe testified that no event was recovered from the vehicle's black box and explained that a pedestrian impact may not create the acceleration threshold that triggers a nondeployment event.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Show 1 more
Key Moment

The court sustained an objection after the prosecutor asked about a state-police reconstruction report Wolfe had not reviewed, and later sustained the objection to follow-up questioning framed around that lack of awareness.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Direct Andrew Rentschler Alan Jackson 1 highlights 16 lines spoken
Summary

Biomechanics expert Andrew Rentschler gave general testimony about vehicle-impact forces and injury patterns; the judge barred case-specific causation opinions about John O'Keefe's injuries.

Highlights (1)
Key Moment

The judge ruled that Rentschler could discuss general causation, forces, and effects on a human body, but could not testify whether an incident caused John O'Keefe's injuries.

Open in transcript →
Cross Andrew Rentschler Adam Lally 1 highlights 71 lines spoken
Summary

Rentschler was questioned about limits in the materials reviewed for his report; the defense then rested, the court denied a renewed required-finding motion, and the parties began the charge conference.

Highlights (1)
Key Moment

Rentschler said he had not reviewed the state police reconstruction report, forensic reports, the physical Lexus, or actual taillight pieces; he also acknowledged that some DNA and taillight-related information became known after the report issued.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶

Day 31

Closing Commonwealth Closing Argument - Adam Lally 5 highlights 15 lines spoken
Summary

Lally argued that the Commonwealth's timeline, phone records, vehicle data, and forensic evidence established Read's guilt and asked for convictions.

Highlights (5)
Quote

“What the constellation of the facts and the evidence ineluctably demonstrate here is that the defendant drove her vehicle in reverse for 24.2 miles per hour for 62 1/2 feet, struck Mr. O'Keefe, causing those catastrophic head injuries, leaving him incapacitated and freezing to death.”

This was Lally's final synthesis of the Commonwealth's vehicle-strike theory.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Lally presented the Commonwealth's timeline, arguing that Read's calls, messages, movements, and the discovery of O'Keefe supported its account of what occurred.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

Lally argued that the phone-search evidence, reported statements, and physical evidence supported the Commonwealth's account and disputed alternative explanations.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Show 1 more

Day 33

Day 34

Day 35

Trial 2 Retrial Apr 22, 2025 – Jun 18, 2025 28 proceedings

Day 4

Redirect Gary Faller Adam Lally 9 lines spoken
Summary

ADA Lally rehabilitates Dr. Faller on redirect, eliciting testimony about serum-to-whole-blood conversion factors, MS patients' lactic acid levels being too low to cause false positives, and the hospital lab's proficiency testing results matching forensic labs.

Day 6

Day 8

Direct Hannah Knowles Adam Lally 2 highlights 71 lines spoken
Summary

Forensic toxicologist Hannah Knowles explained alcohol-conversion methods and calculated a 0.14 to 0.28 percent blood-alcohol range at 12:45 a.m. from a hospital serum result.

Highlights (2)

Day 9

Redirect Hannah Knowles Adam Lally 1 highlights 25 lines spoken
Summary

Prosecutor Adam Lally rehabilitates Hannah Knowles's BAC calculations on redirect, reinforcing the reliability of her serum conversion methodology and the significance of the 0.14–0.28% retrograde range.

Highlights (1)
Quote

“And 0.14, 0.28, and every number in between is higher than 0.08. Is that correct?”

Lally's closing question drives home the prosecution's central point — the entire calculated range exceeds 0.08%.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶

Day 10

Direct Robert Gilman Adam Lally 99 lines spoken
Summary

Meteorologist Robert Gilman testifies about weather conditions in Canton, MA from January 26-29, 2022, establishing that a historic blizzard deposited 23.8 inches of snow with freezing temperatures and frozen ground.

Day 14

Cross Yuri Bukhenik Alan Jackson 3 lines spoken
Summary

Defense attorney Alan Jackson cross-examines Sergeant Bukhenik on investigative failures, Proctor's misconduct texts, Canton PD surveillance gaps, and horizontally mirrored sallyport video; Bukhenik said the corrected view appeared to show Proctor, if it was him, at the SUV's right rear.

Day 15

Direct Evan Brent Adam Lally 63 lines spoken
Summary

MSP crime scene services trooper Evan Brent testifies about photographing evidence recovery at 34 Fairview Road and documenting a Chevrolet Traverse at 1 Meadows Avenue on February 3, 2022.

Redirect Evan Brent Adam Lally 7 lines spoken
Summary

ADA Lally's brief redirect established that Trooper Brent wrote a report and took notes on February 3, 2022, and that one recovered item was approximately a foot to a foot and a half under snow.

Day 17

Direct Andre Porto Adam Lally 161 lines spoken
Summary

Andre Porto, a forensic scientist at the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab, testifies about DNA analysis performed on evidence items in the Karen Read case, including a three-contributor DNA profile from a passenger-side tail-light swab that was at least 510 nonillion times more likely if it originated from John O'Keefe and two unknown individuals than if it originated from three unknown unrelated individuals, supporting an inclusion. He also testified about DNA analyses of a broken drinking glass, clothing stains, and fingernail clippings.

Redirect Andre Porto Adam Lally 12 lines spoken
Summary

Lally's redirect elicited Porto's qualified testimony that multiple DNA contributors on clothing can occur depending on the circumstances, and revisited O'Keefe DNA matches on key evidence items.

Direct Ashley Vallier Adam Lally 51 lines spoken
Summary

Ashley Vallier continues her direct examination, presenting cross-item physical match analysis showing debris fragments from 34 Fairview Road mechanically fit the tail light housing from the defendant's vehicle.

Redirect Ashley Vallier Adam Lally 1 highlights 5 lines spoken
Summary

ADA Lally briefly redirects Ashley Vallier to reaffirm the limits of her chain-of-custody role, then asks whether ten submission-number-seven items mechanically fit the tail light housing. Vallier says she would have to count and affirms the pieces previously stated on direct.

Highlights (1)
Quote

“And so your responsibility, as far as chain of custody is concerned, is from when you retrieve the item during your analysis and then when you return the item to the evidence unit. Correct.”

Frames Vallier's limited chain-of-custody knowledge as standard procedure, not a weakness.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶

Day 18

Day 19

Day 20

Redirect Christina Hanley Adam Lally 1 highlights 12 lines spoken
Summary

ADA Lally’s redirect noted that Jackson’s four-category glass chart did not include the plastic items; Hanley said it did not. Cross-examination had addressed the plastic comparison’s nonexclusive result, and Lally’s question restating that comparison was followed by a sustained-as-to-form ruling.

Highlights (1)
Quote

“as far as the chalk that you were presented with on cross-examination, was there anything in there about item 7-18 or item 3-1, either the tail light housing or the debris from Mr. O'Keefe's clothing?”

Lally's strategic highlight that Jackson's demonstrative chart omitted the tail light plastic evidence entirely

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶

Day 23

Cross Judson Welcher Robert Alessi 4 lines spoken
Summary

Defense attorney Alessi continues cross-examination of prosecution expert Welcher, challenging his photogrammetry methodology, Ring camera analysis, vehicle suspension measurements, and the significance of TechStream vehicle data.

Day 30

Direct Elizabeth Laposata Alan Jackson 6 lines spoken
Summary

Dr. Laposata continues direct examination on brain-injury mechanism, rules out hypothermia as a cause of death, and gives limited opinions that right-arm wounds were consistent with an animal bite or claw marks and did not correspond to irregular fractured plastic pieces.

Day 32

Procedural Procedural - Motions 20 lines spoken
Summary

Pre-closing charge conference covering the defense motion for required finding of not guilty, jury instruction disputes, Bowden/third-party culprit arguments, verdict form proposals, and a curative instruction request regarding Exhibit 88 (the hoodie).

Day 33