Commonwealth v. Read — Trial ArchiveGene Demilus
Testimony Impact
Gene Demilus served as general manager of C.F. McCarthy's, the Canton bar where Karen Read and John O'Keefe spent time together on the evening of January 28, 2022. He was called by the prosecution in Trial 2 solely to authenticate the bar's surveillance video, establishing the chain of custody from the establishment's system to law enforcement. His testimony was brief, and the defense waived cross-examination.
Notable Quotes From The Record
“My name is Gene Demilus. I am the general manager at C.F. McCarthy's in Canton.”
Establishes the witness's role and authority over the bar's operations and surveillance system.
“It was Detective Bukhenik. Yuri. Detective Yuri Bukhenik.”
Identifies the state police detective who collected the surveillance evidence, establishing chain of custody.
Key Moments
- Demilus identified himself as the general manager of C.F. McCarthy's, establishing his authority over the bar's operations and surveillance infrastructure — the foundation needed to authenticate the footage.
- He identified Detective Yuri Bukhenik of the Massachusetts State Police as the officer who came to the bar to collect the surveillance footage, directly establishing the chain of custody for Exhibit 18.
- The defense waived cross-examination entirely, signaling no dispute over the authenticity of the surveillance video or Demilus's account of how it was obtained.