Commonwealth v. Read — Trial ArchiveTim Nuttall
Also known as: Nuttall
Testimony Impact
Tim Nuttall is a Canton firefighter-paramedic who responded to the 911 call reporting an unresponsive male at 34 Fairview Road on January 29, 2022. He was one of the first medical professionals to examine John O'Keefe, documenting his injuries and initiating emergency care. His testimony centers on two things: the physical condition of O'Keefe when first responders arrived, and his account of hearing Karen Read say 'I hit him' at the scene — a statement he did not record in any report and first disclosed to Trooper Proctor ten days after the incident.
Trial 1 vs Trial 2
Trial 2 featured significantly expanded cross-examination of Nuttall, stretching across two separate cross proceedings and two rounds of recross, compared to a single cross in Trial 1. Jackson introduced new material in Trial 2, including dash cam video shown to Nuttall for the first time during a prep meeting with Brennan, which Jackson used to directly contradict Nuttall's account of Karen Read's position during CPR. Jackson also surfaced the discrepancy in Nuttall's count of how many times he heard 'I hit him' — two in Trial 1 testimony, three in Trial 2 — and pressed on the new detail that Nuttall claimed to have heard the statement 'in the background' in addition to directly, a claim that did not appear in his earlier accounts.
Notable Quotes From The Record
“He was noted to have a hematoma on the right side of his face, just above — on his forehead. And there were some scratches on the right arm, the upper arm.”
Documents the specific injuries observed by the first medical professional to examine O'Keefe under adequate lighting.
“Those injuries seem to have been congealed. In my opinion it looked like they had been cold, which could have aided in the clotting of those injuries.”
Suggests the arm injuries were not fresh, consistent with prolonged exposure in freezing conditions before discovery.
“And there was one individual that replied several times, 'I hit him, I hit him.'”
A first responder's account of a bystander's repeated statement at the scene, central to the prosecution's theory that Karen Read struck O'Keefe with her vehicle.
“Mr. O'Keefe was not being touched by any individual when I first got to him. That whole group was kind of pacing around — for lack of a better term, kind of running around in circles.”
Establishes that no bystander CPR was being performed when paramedics arrived, despite the group's proximity to the victim.
“Scratches and abrasions, in my point of view, seem to go hand in hand, but the word that I used was scratches.”
Nuttall characterizes O'Keefe's arm injuries as scratches/furrows rather than blunt force trauma, supporting alternative injury theories
“I do recall that.”
Nuttall confirms his earlier statement to Proctor differs from his trial testimony
“Now she spoke directly to me, yes.”
Nuttall concedes his account has shifted from overhearing the statement to being directly addressed
“As stated, a lot. It's not typically just physical altercations. It could be — again, a golf ball could hit you in the head, that could cause similar injuries.”
Lally elicits that many things could cause the injuries Nuttall observed, diluting the defense's attempt to suggest specific alternative causes during cross.
“So as stated, real quick, down and dirty — I asked, "Do you know this person?" to which I got, "I hit him, I hit him." And then in the background, I remember hearing over and over "I hit him, I hit him" — that was kind of pushed towards the back, and patient care took priority.”
Nuttall's consolidated account on redirect — maintains that Read said 'I hit him' directly to him in response to his question, the version Jackson challenged on cross.
“You're not dead until you're warm and dead.”
Explains the medical rationale for initiating resuscitation despite no signs of life — O'Keefe's hypothermic state required continued life-saving efforts.
“His fingers were very, very white. They were very stiff, which can be signs of hypothermia and frostbite.”
Establishes O'Keefe had been exposed to extreme cold for an extended period, consistent with being outside for hours.
“I hit him. I hit him. I hit him.”
Nuttall's account of Karen Read's words, delivered in response to his question about whether she knew the patient — the central spontaneous utterance the prosecution relies on.
“I remember it very distinctly.”
Directly addresses anticipated defense attacks on memory reliability, asserting the moment stood out among thousands of calls.
“Correct. But that is how it went that morning.”
Nuttall acknowledges the inconsistency with prior testimony but insists his current version is accurate
“I did testify that way. Yes, sir.”
Nuttall concedes he testified under oath that O'Keefe wore a puffy heavy coat — which was completely wrong
“Those injuries could be sustained in a numerous amount of ways. Yes, it could be. It could be from that.”
Nuttall concedes the hematoma and laceration over O'Keefe's eye are consistent with being punched, supporting the defense theory of a physical altercation.
“I have no recollection of ever saying that anybody prayed over anybody ever in this case.”
Nuttall flatly denies a detail recorded in Trooper Proctor's report, raising questions about either Nuttall's memory or Proctor's report accuracy.
“Oh, sir, I don't believe I've ever said 'praying.' That's really not something that I would have said. I didn't see it that day. It didn't happen.”
Nuttall selectively denies part of the Proctor report while unable to deny other parts, highlighting inconsistency in his recall.
“She's running towards where the three of us are grouped.”
Establishes from the dash cam that Read approached the firefighters, countering the defense's suggestion she was too far away to speak to Nuttall.
“I don't remember the interview with Trooper Proctor. I remember it happened. I don't remember the substance of what was discussed entirely.”
Clarifies that his memory gaps concern the later police interview, not the morning's events — a key distinction after cross suggested his overall memory was unreliable.
“I was again focused on Mr. O'Keefe's airway and ventilation.”
Explains why clothing details were inaccurate — his medical duties took priority over observing what the patient was wearing.
“Yes, sir. Three times.”
Nuttall reaffirms under redirect that Read said 'I hit him' three times directly to him, maintaining his Trial 2 account despite cross-examination pressure.
“I remember hearing 'I hit him' several other times. Again, not directed to me, just kind of off in the background.”
Adds that beyond the three direct statements, Read continued repeating the phrase to others at the scene.
“I remember hearing a generalized commotion in the background, but again, that was not our focus.”
Nuttall's own characterization of background noise as 'generalized commotion' directly undermines his redirect claim of hearing specific 'I hit him' statements.
“I heard 'I hit him.' But again, it was in the background and it was not my focus.”
Nuttall tries to maintain hearing the statement while conceding it was not his focus — a position Jackson exploits as inconsistent with his earlier testimony.
“I do.”
Confirms he previously testified under oath to hearing the statement in the background, rebutting the defense's suggestion it was newly fabricated
“I don't recall.”
Nuttall cannot confirm he ever made the background statement claim in his February 8 interview or grand jury testimony.
Key Moments
- Nuttall described finding O'Keefe unresponsive in the snow with a hematoma above his right eye, a back-of-head injury with matted blood, blackened eyes, and congealed scratches on his right upper arm — injuries he noted appeared non-bleeding and cold, suggesting prolonged exposure before discovery.
- Nuttall testified that while rendering aid, he asked a bystander 'Do you know this person?' and received the response 'I hit him, I hit him' — placing Karen Read's alleged admission as a direct answer to his question, a detail central to the prosecution's case in both trials.
- During cross-examination in both trials, Jackson established that Nuttall never documented the 'I hit him' statement in any report, never told hospital staff, and did not disclose it to investigators until February 8, 2022 — ten days after the incident — when he spoke with Trooper Proctor.
- Jackson used dash cam footage from the scene to challenge Nuttall's account, showing that during the period Nuttall described Karen Read approaching him, the video placed her in a different position — a confrontation that became the focal point of extended cross-examination in Trial 2.
- Nuttall acknowledged under cross in both trials that his original account had Read speaking 'to another female' rather than directly to him, a distinction that shifted between his February 2022 statement to Proctor and his trial testimony.