Day 1 - April 29, 2024

The jury was sworn, and the clerk read the indictments against Karen Read. Judge Cannone instructed jurors on the presumption of innocence, the Commonwealth's burden to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, impartiality, and the requirement to decide the case only on the evidence and the law. The Commonwealth then began its opening statement.

David Yannetti's opening statement argues that Karen Read was framed and previews defense-expected evidence challenging the investigation, taillight evidence, and the Commonwealth's account of John O'Keefe's death. He attributes the defense theory to alleged investigative bias and unexamined alternatives involving the Albert home, then asks jurors to require proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

During a break in the defense opening, the court reporter recorded the entry and marking of photographs as Exhibits 1 through 4 and 7 through 14, and video CDs as Exhibits 5 and 6. Court then resumed with the defendant and jury present.

Paul O'Keefe, John's brother, described John's role raising his niece and nephew, John's relationship with Karen Read, and the family's plans during the January 2022 snowstorm. He testified that his mother called at 6:40 a.m. on January 29 to say John had been found in the snow and taken to Good Samaritan Hospital; after arriving, he said hospital staff told the family that efforts to save John had failed. O'Keefe also described seeing Read in the hospital hallway, the family's return to the Meadows Ave. home, and Read's later visit there with relatives. Photographs were entered as Exhibits 15 through 24, and Ring videos marked as Exhibit 6 were played while O'Keefe identified people, vehicles, and snow-removal activity. The court struck two portions of his testimony concerning Read's purported access to the Ring system after defense objections.

Erin O'Keefe described the O'Keefe family, Johnny's guardianship of his niece and nephew after their parents died, and her friendship with Karen Read. She recounted messages and conversations involving Read, including an Aruba dispute and January 28 communications, as well as learning on January 29 that Johnny had been found in the snow. The court instructed jurors that alleged statements by Read about the Aruba incident could be considered only for Read's state of mind and the nature of her relationship with Johnny, not for their truth. Erin also described a later call in which Read gave an account of dropping Johnny at a party and later searching for him.

Officer Steven Saraf testified that he responded shortly after 6:00 a.m. to 34 Fairview Road during heavy snow and darkness, where he saw three women and John O'Keefe on the lawn. He described checking O'Keefe for a pulse, observing that he was cold to the touch, retrieving an AED, and the fire department's later takeover of care. Saraf testified that Karen Read appeared to be giving CPR and described statements and demeanor he attributed to her at the scene. The court admitted and played cruiser-camera video from Saraf's vehicle.