Commonwealth v. Read — Trial Archive
Person John Tedman Trial 2John Tedman is a private investigator with Forum Investigations who was retained by the defense days before testifying to measure and photograph the entrances at 34 Fairview Road. ← All People
🗣️ Witness · Forum Investigations

John Tedman

Trial 2
103 lines 3 proceedings
Courtroom still of John Tedman.

About

John Tedman is a private investigator with Forum Investigations, holding a background that includes federal law enforcement and a law degree from Suffolk. He was contacted by the defense just days before his testimony and tasked with a narrow assignment: travel to 34 Fairview Road in Canton and document the distances from the driveway to each entrance of the Albert residence. His testimony established precise measurements between the mailbox/driveway and three separate doors — the main front door (65 ft 9 in), a secondary side-facing door (70 ft 1 in), and a pedestrian garage entrance (78 ft 3 in) — and he identified the property's location on a neighborhood map.

Key Points

  • Tedman established that the red side door provides direct access into the garage from outside without passing through the house interior, a detail the defense used to describe the physical layout of the property.
  • Using a wheeled measuring device, Tedman documented that the pedestrian garage entrance — the farthest of the three doors — sits 78 feet 3 inches from the end of the driveway, with the main front door at 65 feet 9 inches, creating a precise spatial record of the property.
  • On cross-examination, prosecutor Brennan reframed Tedman's measurements as round-trip distances, establishing that traveling from any door back to the mailbox would require more than 130 to 156 feet of total travel — a framing that emphasized the distances rather than minimizing them.
  • Tedman acknowledged during cross that he had taken additional measurements from the flag pole area but did not have his notes available, and could only confirm that alternate routes from that location to each entrance exceeded 80 feet.

Trial Record (3)

Trial 2 Retrial Apr 22, 2025 – Jun 18, 2025 3 proceedings

Day 29

Direct John Tedman David Yannetti 3 highlights 45 lines spoken
Summary

Defense private investigator John Tedman testifies about measurements and photographs he took at 34 Fairview Road in Canton, describing the layout of entrances to the residence.

Highlights (3)
Quote

“I was contacted by somebody from your office last Tuesday, I believe the 3rd.”

Establishes Tedman was a last-minute substitute brought in just days before testimony.

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Quote

“I was asked to travel to 34 Fairview Road in Canton, and take some measurements and photographs.”

Defines the narrow scope of Tedman's assignment — physical documentation of the property.

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Direct John Tedman David Yannetti 3 highlights 33 lines spoken
Summary

John Tedman provides measurements from the end of the driveway to three entrances at 34 Fairview Road and identifies a neighborhood map showing the property's location.

Highlights (3)
Quote

“So that door goes directly into the garage, facing north.”

Establishes that the red side door provides direct garage access from outside without entering the house.

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Cross John Tedman Hank Brennan 1 highlights 25 lines spoken
Summary

Prosecution cross-examines defense investigator John Tedman about his measurements at 34 Fairview Road, establishing that round-trip distances to each door exceed 130-156 feet and that alternate routes from the flag pole area exceed 80 feet.

Highlights (1)
Quote

“I don't. No, I'm sorry.”

Tedman acknowledges he has no report with him for the flag pole measurements, limiting his ability to provide precise figures on cross

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Locations Touched By This Testimony

34 Fairview Road 3 procs