Person Sarah Levinson Trial 1Trial 2Guest at 34 Fairview Road who testified about the gathering and her limited view of the yard as she left. ← All People
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Sarah Levinson

Courtroom still of Sarah Levinson.

Guest at 34 Fairview Road who testified about the gathering and her limited view of the yard as she left.

Trial 1Trial 2
560 lines 6 proceedings 2 trials

About

Levinson attended Brian Albert Jr.’s birthday gathering at 34 Fairview Road. She described the guests she recalled and testified that no one else entered while she was there. On cross-examination, she acknowledged that she had not kept track of every arrival or departure. She left with Julie Nagel and rode home with Jennifer and Matthew McCabe. Levinson said she watched her feet while walking because her shoes had poor traction. She later clarified that she saw grass beside the front walkway, not the entire lawn. She noticed nothing unusual, but said she was not looking toward the flagpole and could not see the lawn from the car after it passed the house. She also testified that light from inside the house did not illuminate the ground near the flagpole and fire hydrant. Defense counsel questioned Levinson about her longstanding friendship with the Albert family and her many visits to the house. Asked about earlier testimony that she had not met the family dog, she said she was not completely sure and could not explain why. She acknowledged discussing the subject of her upcoming police interview with Nagel beforehand, though she denied preparing for it. Levinson said she declined to speak with defense investigators because she believed she had nothing to discuss.

Trial Record (6)

Trial 1 First Criminal Trial Apr 29, 2024 – Jul 1, 2024 3 proceedings

Day 11

Direct Sarah Levinson Direct Examination Sarah Levinson Adam Lally 4 highlights 165 lines spoken
Summary

Levinson described the gathering at 34 Fairview Road, testified that no one else entered while she was there, and said she could not see the house or lawn after leaving.

Highlights (4)
Quote

“When she was speaking to me, I looked at her. Once she said what she said, I looked the other way to the window.”

Levinson explained the sequence of her attention while the vehicle was already past 34 Fairview Road.

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Cross Sarah Levinson Cross-Examination Sarah Levinson David Yannetti 2 highlights 161 lines spoken
Summary

Levinson described limits in her memory of arrivals and departures, qualified prior testimony about visibility, and said she was not looking as the McCabe car passed the front lawn.

Highlights (2)
Redirect Sarah Levinson - Redirect Examination Sarah Levinson Adam Lally 2 highlights 11 lines spoken
Summary

Levinson clarified that she observed only the grass beside the front walkway when leaving 34 Fairview and explained why she declined a defense interview.

Highlights (2)
Quote

“When I walked out of the front door, I went down the steps of the stoop and I looked in front of me, like down, not straight. So it would be the grass that borders the front walkway.”

Clarifies the limited area Levinson observed while leaving the house.

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

Day 9

Direct Sarah Levinson - Direct Sarah Levinson Hank Brennan 4 highlights 163 lines spoken
Summary

Sarah Levinson testifies about attending Brian Albert Jr.'s birthday party at 34 Fairview Road on the night of January 28, 2022, describing the layout, guests, timeline, and conditions when she left.

Highlights (4)
Quote

“It was cold, but it wasn't raining or snowing or anything.”

Establishes no precipitation when she arrived between 7-8 PM, contrasting with conditions when she left.

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Quote

“Like I don't know, a dusting, or I could still see like some little pieces of grass like sticking out of it. Um, but it was pretty much like the walkway and everything was white.”

Documents snow accumulation at departure time (1:30-2:00 AM) — light enough that grass was still visible.

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Quote

“I was wearing shoes that didn't really have traction, so I was looking at my feet.”

Explains why she did not observe the front lawn area when leaving — she was focused on not slipping.

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Cross Sarah Levinson - Cross Sarah Levinson Alan Jackson 3 highlights 54 lines spoken
Summary

Alan Jackson cross-examines Sarah Levinson about her familiarity with the Albert home, her observations leaving 34 Fairview Road, and the nine-month delay before law enforcement interviewed her.

Highlights (3)
Quote

“I didn't notice anything. I wasn't looking out at the flag pole.”

Levinson qualifies her observation — she didn't see anything unusual but wasn't actively looking, limiting the value of her negative observation.

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Quote

“A state trooper, Michael Proctor.”

Identifies Trooper Proctor as the interviewer nine months after the incident, reinforcing the delayed and narrow investigation.

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Quote

“Somewhat.”

Levinson acknowledged discussing the interview's subject matter with Julie Nagel somewhat beforehand after denying interview preparation, recording limited pre-interview contact rather than establishing coordination.

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