Commonwealth v. Read — Trial Archive
Person Julie Albert Trial 1Julie Albert is the wife of Christopher Albert and mother of Colin Albert, both connected to the Albert family household where John O’Keefe was found dead. She testified about the group’s activities at the Waterfall bar and her discovery of the scene at 34 Fairview Road the following morning. ← All People
🗣️ Witness

Julie Albert

Trial 1
599 lines 6 proceedings
Courtroom still of Julie Albert.

About

Julie Albert is married to Christopher Albert, whose family hosted the party at 34 Fairview Road on the night John O'Keefe died. She was present at the Waterfall Bar & Grille on the evening of January 28, 2022, before leaving early due to a migraine. Her testimony covers the group's activities that night, her husband's return home around 12:10 AM, her son Colin's whereabouts, and her arrival at 34 Fairview Road the next morning when she encountered the distressed group. Cross-examination focused heavily on her close personal ties to the Proctor family and the volume of phone contact she had with lead investigator Michael Proctor's sister Courtney during the investigation.

Key Points

  • Albert testified that Read removed a glass containing clear liquid from her jacket at the Waterfall and began drinking from it. Albert separately testified that Read and O'Keefe had come from C.F. McCarthy's.
  • Albert described her husband Christopher arriving home around 12:10 AM, cold from the walk but otherwise unremarkable — testimony that the defense challenged when Waterfall lobby video showed him leaving the bar at 12:13 AM, creating a timeline discrepancy.
  • Yannetti challenged Albert about phone contact with Courtney Proctor from February 1 to September 6, 2022, citing 67 calls after her earlier description of phone contact as "very rarely." For that specified period, Albert said she did not recall the frequency or exact count and did not deny the 67-call figure.
  • Yannetti asked Albert whether she had used Courtney Proctor as an intermediary to communicate with Michael Proctor about the case, and Albert expressly denied it. The defense used the surrounding call-frequency challenge to suggest a connection, but that implication was not Albert's adopted testimony.
  • Albert also acknowledged on cross-examination that she had not disclosed to investigators that her son Colin had been present at 34 Fairview Road after midnight on the night O'Keefe died — an omission the defense characterized as significant given Colin Albert's subsequent role in the case.

Trial Record (6)

Trial 1 First Criminal Trial Apr 29, 2024 – Jul 1, 2024 6 proceedings

Day 8

Direct Julie Albert Adam Lally 4 highlights 218 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 (4)
Quote

“I think I laughed and said, made a comment like you’re crazy or something just because she walked in with a glass.”

Julie Albert described her reaction after seeing Karen Read arrive at the Waterfall carrying a glass.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Quote

“I do know that -- I do remember, I’m sorry, that Karen had asked if we could go back to D&E, my husband’s store, and make pizza, because that’s something we frequently do if we’re out at the end of the night, if we’re hungry.”

Julie Albert recalled Karen Read raising D&E Pizza as a possible destination after the Waterfall.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Quote

“He came upstairs to my room. He was shivering because it was cold out. And he immediately went into the bathroom, got undressed, and got into bed.”

Julie Albert described Christopher Albert's return home after the Waterfall gathering.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

At 34 Fairview Road the next morning, Julie Albert said the people present appeared upset and Jennifer McCabe told her that something had happened to John O’Keefe. The judge overruled a defense objection to that testimony.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Cross Julie Albert 43 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

Locations Touched By This Testimony

34 Fairview Road 3 procs Waterfall Bar & Grille 2 procs C.F. McCarthy's 1 proc Canton Police Department 1 proc