Commonwealth v. Read — Trial Archive
Person Nicholas Kolokithas Trial 1Nicholas Kolokithas is a Canton attorney and basketball parent who was with the group at the Waterfall bar on the night of January 28, 2022, and testified about the evening’s events and the couple’s demeanor. ← All People
🗣️ Witness

Nicholas Kolokithas

Trial 1
214 lines 5 proceedings
Courtroom still of Nicholas Kolokithas.

About

Nicholas Kolokithas, a Canton attorney, knew John O'Keefe and Karen Read through their children's shared basketball activities. He was present at the Waterfall Bar & Grille on the night of January 28, 2022, and testified about who was there, the seating arrangements, O'Keefe's clothing and physical condition, the group's plans to go to 34 Fairview Road, and the weather conditions when the bar closed around midnight. His testimony spans direct, cross, redirect, and recross examination, covering both the prosecution's timeline of events and the defense's effort to establish the couple's loving relationship.

Key Points

  • Kolokithas testified that snow had barely begun to accumulate when the group left the Waterfall around midnight, establishing the weather conditions at the time O'Keefe was last seen before being found frozen on the Albert lawn hours later.
  • He confirmed that Brian Albert extended an open invitation to the group to come back to his house at 34 Fairview Road — the location where O'Keefe was later found — placing the social gathering in context and establishing who had reason to be there.
  • Kolokithas described O'Keefe's clothing at the bar — a baseball cap, jeans, sneakers, and a long-sleeve top with no winter coat — and confirmed he observed no injuries on O'Keefe, establishing his physical condition when he left the bar.
  • On cross-examination, Kolokithas testified that Read and O'Keefe were openly affectionate toward each other at the bar, noting that his wife had even remarked on it — testimony that directly countered any suggestion of relationship conflict as a motive.
  • During recross, Jackson asked about Read praising O'Keefe, but the court struck Kolokithas's answer, so it is not an accepted factual proposition.

Trial Record (5)

Trial 1 First Criminal Trial Apr 29, 2024 – Jul 1, 2024 5 proceedings

Day 7

Direct Nicholas Kolokithas Adam Lally 4 highlights 116 lines spoken
Summary

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

Highlights (4)
Quote

“I don’t know what was in there. I don’t know if it was water or an alcoholic drink. I don’t know for sure.”

Kolokithas expressly limited what he could say about the contents of Read's glass.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Quote

“I believe it was mentioned. Brian Albert, the homeowner, had invited the group back to his house.”

He described the invitation to 34 Fairview Road as his recollection of the discussion.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

He testified that John O’Keefe and Karen Read arrived around 11:00 p.m.; he observed a clear liquid in Read's glass but could not identify it, and said he did not observe arguments between them.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Cross Nicholas Kolokithas Alan Jackson 3 highlights 88 lines spoken
Summary

Kolokithas described no observed tension between Ms. Read and John O’Keefe, while the court limited hearsay and video-narration testimony.

Highlights (3)
Quote

“They were affectionate toward each other, loving toward each other, and to the point where my wife even made a comment why are you not like that with me.”

Kolokithas described his observation of the couple’s demeanor at the Waterfall.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Quote

“I honestly don’t remember what appears to be play fighting.”

After viewing the surveillance video, Kolokithas said it did not refresh his recollection of the interaction.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Key Moment

The court sustained an objection to video narration, directing that Kolokithas could identify himself and where he was looking but not describe the men’s stance in the footage.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶
Redirect Nicholas Kolokithas Adam Lally 2 highlights 7 lines spoken
Summary

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

Highlights (2)
Quote

“I did. I don’t know if I was necessarily looking at them or the other side of the table, but, yes, I did observe myself laughing.”

Qualifies the witness's interpretation of his own reaction in the video.

Open in transcript → Watch this moment ▶

Locations Touched By This Testimony

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