Commonwealth v. Read — Trial Archive
Person Joseph Paul Trial 1Massachusetts State Police trooper and crash-reconstruction witness. ← All People
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Joseph Paul

Courtroom still of Joseph Paul.

Massachusetts State Police trooper and crash-reconstruction witness.

Trial 1
1,248 lines 7 proceedings

About

Joseph Paul mapped evidence near where John O’Keefe was found, inspected Karen Read’s Lexus, and analyzed its vehicle-control-history data. He testified that the data showed a reverse maneuver reaching 24.2 mph and offered the opinion that the Lexus struck O’Keefe near 34 Fairview Road. He said one point in the data was consistent with a pedestrian strike, but acknowledged it could also reflect contact with another object and did not definitively locate a pedestrian impact. Defense counsel challenged how Paul placed the event near 34 Fairview Road and reconstructed the contact. Paul said he considered key cycles, odometer mileage, and information within the recorded events, while acknowledging that he could not establish every route the vehicle had taken or calculate this sideswipe-style collision. In a hearing outside the jury’s presence, he said a low-speed contact shown in a Ring video was inconsistent with the taillight damage. He acknowledged that he had not physically compared or measured the vehicles, conducted force testing, or documented that opinion in a report.

Trial Record (7)

Trial 1 First Criminal Trial Apr 29, 2024 – Jul 1, 2024 7 proceedings

Day 25

Direct Joseph Paul - Direct Joseph Paul Adam Lally 2 highlights 457 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)
Quote

“In this bit of software, there was no data recovered or no events recovered.”

Paul said the airbag control module did not record data or an event in this case.

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Quote

“Yeah, there's a point in there where it appears to be consistent with a pedestrian strike.”

Paul gave his reconstruction opinion about a point in the vehicle-control-history data.

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Voir Dire Joseph Paul - Voir Dire Joseph Paul 4 highlights 135 lines spoken
Summary

Trooper Paul’s voir dire examined his opinion that a low-speed contact shown on video was inconsistent with taillight damage, along with the testing and documentation behind that opinion.

Highlights (4)
Quote

“No, because I watched the video like after court was done, and honestly I watched the first time on Court TV, so --”

Paul described when and how he first viewed the video later used for his opinion.

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Key Moment

Paul testified that the video contact was not consistent with the Lexus taillight damage, citing the absence of damage on Mr. O’Keefe’s vehicle and the relative height of the taillight.

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Day 26

Direct Joseph Paul - Direct Examination Joseph Paul Adam Lally 2 highlights 39 lines spoken
Summary

Trooper Paul gave his reconstruction opinion that the Lexus reversed near 34 Fairview Road and struck John O'Keefe; the court struck part of a later visibility-related opinion.

Highlights (2)
Cross Trooper Paul - Cross-Examination Joseph Paul Alan Jackson 4 highlights 533 lines spoken
Summary

Defense counsel challenged Trooper Paul's reconstruction methods, including Techstream data, scene mapping, collision calculations, and his account of the taillight contact.

Highlights (4)
Quote

“I do go in my report saying I can't say that's definitively where a pedestrian was struck, but --”

Paul limited the certainty of his interpretation of the particular Techstream data point.

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Quote

“so the taillight in this case was shattered when it was strucked(sic) John O'Keefe's arm.”

Paul stated his reconstruction opinion about how the taillight shattered.

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Redirect Joseph Paul — Redirect Joseph Paul Adam Lally 4 highlights 64 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 (4)
Quote

“Right. Okay. Yeah, so why I think that's consistent with a pedestrian strike is because of the sudden change in the speed. It drops down by a half mile-per-hour. The external(ph) pedal is staying constant at the same percentage, and the steering wheel angle also turns to the right.”

Paul explained the vehicle-data features supporting his pedestrian-strike opinion.

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Quote

“Based on the evidence from the vehicle, based on the injuries to John O'Keefe, the taillight appears to be broken and its sharp plastic pieces that could've ripped his arm”

Paul tied his reconstruction opinion to the vehicle damage and injuries.

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Key Moment

Paul explained why he believed the reverse triggering event was consistent with a pedestrian strike, citing a speed change, constant pedal percentage, and steering-wheel movement.

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Key Moment

Paul gave his reconstruction opinion that the taillight damage, injuries, dent, scratches, and glass were consistent with the described interaction between the vehicle and John O'Keefe.

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Recross Joseph Paul - Recross Joseph Paul Alan Jackson 1 highlights 18 lines spoken
Summary

Defense counsel tested Trooper Paul's use of key cycles and odometer mileage in his reconstruction; the court allowed a limited follow-up after sidebar.

Highlights (1)
Quote

“I've always said it's key cycles and odometer mileage plus all the information within the triggers themselves. So it wasn't just one or the other.”

Paul described the inputs he said supported his vehicle-data analysis.

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Locations Touched By This Testimony

34 Fairview Road 6 procs Canton Police Department 4 procs Waterfall Bar & Grille 2 procs Canton PD Sally Port 1 proc