Commonwealth v. Read — Trial ArchivePaul O'Keefe - Direct
701 linesWhereupon, PAUL O'KEEFE having been first duly sworn, was examined and testified under oath as follows:
DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: Good afternoon, sir.
MR. O'KEEFE: Good afternoon.
MR. LALLY: Could you please state your name and spell your last name for the record?
MR. O'KEEFE: Paul O'Keefe, last name, O-'-K-E-E-F-E.
MR. LALLY: And where do you live, sir?
MR. O'KEEFE: I live in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts.
MR. LALLY: And how long have you lived there?
MR. O'KEEFE: Ten years.
MR. LALLY: And who, if anyone, do you live there with?
MR. O'KEEFE: My wife, Erin; and our two children.
MR. LALLY: And how old are your children?
MR. O'KEEFE: Thirteen and 10.
MR. LALLY: And both daughters; is that correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: And how long have you and your wife been together?
MR. O'KEEFE: Together, 24 years, total, married for 17 almost.
MR. LALLY: And what is your wife's name?
MR. O'KEEFE: Erin.
MR. LALLY: And where did you grow up?
MR. O'KEEFE: Braintree, Massachusetts.
MR. LALLY: And what are your parents" names?
MR. O'KEEFE: My father is John. My mother is Margaret.
MR. LALLY: And did you have any siblings?
MR. O'KEEFE: Two, yes, a sister, Kristen. Excuse me. And a brother, John.
MR. LALLY: And what was sort of the order and age as far as the siblings?
MR. O'KEEFE: My sister was the oldest. My brother was the middle. I'm the youngest. So my sister was five years older than me and my brother was three and a half years older than me.
MR. LALLY: And do you work, sir?
MR. O'KEEFE: I do.
MR. LALLY: What do you do for work?
MR. O'KEEFE: I'm in sales for a company, Symmons Industries, which is a manufacturer of home products.
MR. LALLY: How long have you been doing that?
MR. O'KEEFE: Twelve years now.
MR. LALLY: And does your wife work, as well?
MR. O'KEEFE: She does.
MR. LALLY: What does she do?
MR. O'KEEFE: She is in marketing. She works fora mechanical contractor, Randolph.
MR. LALLY: About how long has she been doing that?
MR. O'KEEFE: She's been with her company for a year anda half now. Before that, she had a job working out of Boston for about 13 years.
MR. LALLY: And your brother, John. Did you call him John or was there like a nickname or anything else that you referred to him?
MR. O'KEEFE: We all called him Johnny, especially if you were family.
MR. LALLY: And what did Johnny do for work?
MR. O'KEEFE: Boston Police.
MR. LALLY: How long was he a member of the Boston Police?
MR. O'KEEFE: Sixteen years.
MR. LALLY: And, within the Boston Police, where specifically did he sort of work?
MR. O'KEEFE: He started in Hyde Park/Mattapan area, which I believe is E-18, and transferred over to Dorchester, which is C-11, and then downtown Boston in the SORI unit, which is the sex offender registry unit.
MR. LALLY: And when was it about that he started with the sex offender registry unit?
MR. O'KEEFE: So after my sister had passed away in 2013, her husband passed away two months after that, my brother, he took responsibility of raising our niece and nephew. And so the Boston Police, you know, to ensure that he was safe and protected, moved him to that unit in 2014.
MR. LALLY: I'm sorry to ask you this, but your sister passed away in 2013; is that correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: And what did your sister, Kristen, pass away from?
MR. O'KEEFE: She had an aggressive brain tumor which is called glioblastoma.
MR. LALLY: And about how much time was it between the time that she sort of received the diagnosis to her passing?
MR. O'KEEFE: Five and a half months.
MR. LALLY: And you mentioned that you had a brother-in- law, Kristen's husband; is that correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct. Stephen Furbush. Yes.
MR. LALLY: And when was it that he passed in relation to Kristen's death?
MR. O'KEEFE: Two months later, which was January 12th, 2014.
MR. LALLY: And they -- and by "they," I mean Kristen Stephen Furbush, they had two children; is that correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes. Two children, [REDACTED] and [REDACTED].
MR. LALLY: Which one is older?
MR. O'KEEFE: [REDACTED] is the older. [REDACTED] is a couple years younger than her, about three years.
MR. LALLY: How old are they now?
MR. O'KEEFE: [REDACTED] is 16 and [REDACTED] is 13.
MR. LALLY: And you mentioned -- so initially when your sister, Kristen, passed away, what was sort of the family's plan as far as [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] were concerned?
MR. O'KEEFE: Can you repeat that?
MR. LALLY: Sure. So initially when your sister, Kristen, passed away and her husband, Stephen, was still alive, what was sort of the initial plan as far as -- with reference to the children?
MR. O'KEEFE: We were kind of in scramble mode to figure out, you know, how to move forward. My wife and I talked about having the kids come live with us. We had two small children at the time. [REDACTED] [REDACTED] We didn't have, you know, a large enough house to take on two other children. So my brother stepped in and moved into the house in Canton and raised them for eight years.
MR. LALLY: So around this time of 2013, your sister, Kristen, and her husband, Stephen's, children, about how old were they at this time that Johnny sort of took over --
MR. O'KEEFE: [REDACTED] was six. [REDACTED] was three.
MR. LALLY: Now, when your brother, Johnny, sort of -- what, if any, sort of legal relationship did he have to your niece and nephew, [REDACTED] and [REDACTED]?
MR. O'KEEFE: He was made legal guardian.
MR. LALLY: And where did he move from and where did he move to when he assumed that role?
MR. O'KEEFE: So he was living in Dorchester ina condo. He was living by himself. So he pretty much moved into my sister and brother-in-law's house in Canton, lived there for, I want to say, four years until we sold the house and bought a different house which is also located in Canton.
MR. LALLY: Now, the initial house that your sister and her husband, Stephen, lived in with [REDACTED] and [REDACTED], about how long had they been living there before your brother, Johnny, moved in?
MR. O'KEEFE: They were probably there for five or six years.
MR. LALLY: Prior to that, where had your sister, Kristen and either of the children lived prior to moving into that initial house in Canton?
MR. LALLY: Yes. So Kristen and Steve actually moved in with Johnny in Dorchester when [REDACTED] was just a baby, lived with him for approximately a year before they bought their home in Canton.
MR. LALLY: Now, about -- you mentioned that at some point your brother bought a second house in Canton and moved in there with the kids; is that right?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: Around what time was that?
MR. O'KEEFE: I want to say 2017 or 2018 time frame.
MR. LALLY: And they lived there up and through sort of January 28, 29th, 2022; is that correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: Now, around that particular time of January 2022, about how often did you see your brother, Johnny, and the kids [REDACTED] and [REDACTED]?
MR. O'KEEFE: I would say probably every other week. Twice a month.
MR. LALLY: And your brother, in particular, how often would you communicate with him during that time?
MR. O'KEEFE: Communicate regularly, mostly through text messaging, you know, a couple of days a week, I would say.
MR. LALLY: Now, over the course of time, you said about eight years or so, that Johnny had sort of custody of [REDACTED] and [REDACTED], correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: And, over that course of time, about how many relationships and -- well, let me phrase this guestion first. About how many long-term relationships did your brother, Johnny, have with women over the course of that time? And, before you get to that, if I could just ask you what your definition of long-term relationship would be?
MR. O'KEEFE: Long-term relationship is, you know, over a year.
MR. LALLY: And so how many of those types of dating relationships that lasted for at least a year did your brother have during that time that he had the kids?
MR. O'KEEFE: Two.
MR. LALLY: And who were those two individuals?
MR. O'KEEFE: Amy, Amy Fortney; and Karen Read.
MR. LALLY: And this other individual, Amy, when about was it that your brother dated her?
MR. O'KEEFE: 2016-2017 time frame, I think.
MR. LALLY: And did this other woman that he dated named Amy, did she have children of her own?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes. She had two sons.
MR. LALLY: Now, you mentioned two. So other than Amy, who was the other one?
MR. O'KEEFE: Her two sons' names are [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] 0) No. I'm sorry. A Oh. I'm sorry.
MR. LALLY: In reference to you mentioned two women that your brother had dated for a long-term period, correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes. That's correct.
MR. LALLY: And one of them was the woman, Amy, that you were just speaking about, correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: And who was the second one?
MR. O'KEEFE: Karen Read.
MR. LALLY: And is Karen Read someone that you had met through the course of your brother dating her?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes.
MR. LALLY: Okay. And just to be clear for the record, do you see Ms. Read in the courtroom today and can you identify as to where she is seated or an article of clothing that she's wearing?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes. She is seated right there between Mr. Yannetti and Mr. Jackson.
MR. LALLY: I'd just ask the record to reflect the identification of the defendant by the witness.
MR. YANNETTI: No objection.
JUDGE CANNONE: Yes, it may.
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: Now, Mr. O'Keefe, when was it that you first met Karen Read?
MR. O'KEEFE: I believe it was Mother's Day. So maybe May of 2020.
MR. LALLY: Now, prior to that, were you aware of any other time when Ms. Read and your brother, Johnny, had dated in the past?
MR. O'KEEFE: They dated very briefly in 2004.
MR. LALLY: And had you had occasion to meet her during that brief period where they dated in 2004?
MR. O'KEEFE: I did not meet her back then, no.
MR. LALLY: And so the first time you met her would have been sometime in the spring of 2020, correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: And what was your understanding as far as when they had reconnected or gotten back together in reference to when you met her?
MR. O'KEEFE: They reconnected. I believe my brother reached out to her in March of 2020, right at the beginning of COVID. I think he reached out to her via Facebook Messenger and then, you know, text.
MR. LALLY: And they resumed some kind of relation and you had occasion to meet or see Karen Read over the course of hanging out with your brother at various occasions, correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct. Yes.
MR. LALLY: Now, about how often would you see Ms. Read? Would it be the same, more or less, than when you saw your brother?
MR. O'KEEFE: Almost the same. Maybe a little less. You know, with my brother, it was just him and I or his friends. But, for the most part, he was with Karen.
MR. LALLY: And, as far as your understanding, what was sort of the living arrangements with regard to Ms. Read and your brother?
MR. O'KEEFE: She has her own home in Mansfield, Massachusetts. She would stay at my brother's house in Canton I would say three, maybe four nights a week.
MR. LALLY: And that would be at your brother's house with both he and your niece and nephew, correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: Now, with regard to you mentioned that they reconnected sometime around the COVID-19 pandemic; is that correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: That's correct.
MR. LALLY: And, with regard to your brother and the defendant, Ms. Read, and the children, what was sort of going on as far as school and work with regard to the pandemic, with regard to each of them, if you know?
MR. O'KEEFE: So that was a period of time when schools were closed and kids had to do remote learning. So [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] were both at home, remote learning. My brother, you know, didn't have a job where he could work from home. So he had to go into the office. Most of the time, Karen would be at home with the kids during the day while she worked remotely.
MR. LALLY: Now, you mentioned earlier that your brother had a legal guardianship role with regard to the children, correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct, yes.
MR. LALLY: What, if any, legal status or role did the defendant have with regard to the children?
MR. O'KEEFE: She didn't have any.
MR. LALLY: Now, with regard to your brother and the defendant's relationship, what, if any, conversations did you have with your brother in regard to the status of their relationship or any issues in their relationship?
MR. O'KEEFE: He didn't say too much. If they were arguing, you know, I mean, give reference that they were arguing. He never really told me what they were arguing about. He mostly kept that stuff to himself.
MR. LALLY: What, if anything, did he mention to you as far as reasons for an argument or sort of points of contention?
MR. O'KEEFE: He didn't like, you know, if she would spend a lot of money on the kids for gifts or, you know -- I know there were some arguments over, you know, what she fed them, whether it's Dunkin' Donuts or whatnot, but things along those lines.
MR. LALLY: Now, what, if any, sort of -- what, if any, occasions as far as their arguing or anything like that did you observe personally yourself?
MR. O'KEEFE: I witnessed -- so they had rented a house down in Cape Cod. I want to say that was the summer of 2021. I brought my two daughters down for a couple nights, and I witnessed, you know, one intense fight between the two of them.
MR. LALLY: And, as far as a fight as you're characterizing that, was that anything physical or just verbal?
MR. O'KEEFE: No. That was a verbal argument.
MR. LALLY: And what, if anything, was that verbal argument about?
MR. O'KEEFE: It's hard to recall. I mean, I guess it's like typical couples fighting. There was alcohol that might have been involved. I recall her complaining that, you know, he wasn't nice to her or something to that effect. I was kind of the referee in that entire Situation.
MR. LALLY: Now, when you make reference of alcohol involvement, was that one or both or --
MR. O'KEEFE: Both.
MR. LALLY: Both your brother and the defendant?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: Now, if I could turn your attention to New Year's, and specifically New Year's Eve going from 2021 into 2022. Do you recall that time?
MR. O'KEEFE: I do.
MR. LALLY: Do you recall where you and your family were for that sort of New Year's celebration?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes. So I was with my wife and her family. We went to Aruba the day after Christmas in celebration of my wife's mother's 70th birthday.
MR. LALLY: Hold on one second for the siren to pass by.
JUDGE CANNONE: Mr. Lally, does it make sense that I give an instruction at this point? Let me see counsel at sidebar.
MR. LALLY: Yes.
(Whereupon, there was a sidebar conference as follows:)
JUDGE CANNONE: I don't know --
COURT REPORTER: I'm having trouble.
MR. LALLY: With regard to this witness, so they were in the room around the same time but they did not see each other.
JUDGE CANNONE: Okay. That's what I thought.
MR. LALLY: So the next witness, there is conversation between her, meaning, Mrs. O'Keefe, Mrs. Erin O'Keefe, and the defendant in regard to what happened. With this witness it may well be hearsay.
JUDGE CANNONE: Okay. So no instruction?
MR. LALLY: Unless the Court feels it appropriate for the 2021, which I'm find with that, if that's what --
JUDGE CANNONE: I can do that in the final charge.
MR. LALLY: Okay.
MR. YANNETTI: Just to confirm, if I may address the Court. I'm just making sure. There was some indication on a report that Paul O'Keefe had told the police that he did not go over to Karen and John's place because they were fighting or something like that. That's what you're referring to in terms of when you say you're not seeking to elicit that from him?
MR. LALLY: Correct. So he gets that information from his wife, not directly from your client.
MR. YANNETTI: Okay.
MR. LALLY: But no. I'm not seeking anything about --
MR. YANNETTI: Then that's fine.
JUDGE CANNONE: So you don't want me to draw attention to it with an instruction?
MR. LALLY: Correct.
JUDGE CANNONE: Okay. Thank you.
(Whereupon, the sidebar conference concluded.)
JUDGE CANNONE: Mr. O'Keefe, I'm sorry for the interruption.
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: So during that New Year's you were in Aruba for your wife's mother's seventieth birthday, correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: And was your brother, Johnny, was he also in Aruba around that same time frame?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes.
MR. LALLY: Okay. And your resort and your brother's resort, where were they in relation to each other?
MR. O'KEEFE: They were pretty much on opposite sides of the island.
MR. LALLY: And, at any point in time when you were in Aruba, did you see your brother at any point?
MR. O'KEEFE: Unfortunately, I did not.
MR. LALLY: Now, you mentioned that you were there with your wife and your children; is that correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: And do you know who your brother was in Aruba with around that same time?
MR. O'KEEFE: He was with Karen Read and he brought the kids. [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] were with him. They were also with a large group, many other couples and families.
MR. LALLY: Do you know who was sort of the primary organizer of that group that your brother was with?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes. A friend of ours, Laura Sullivan.
MR. LALLY: And how did you know Laura Sullivan?
MR. O'KEEFE: I knew Laura through my brother. She had dated my brother's partner and one of his best friends, Pat Rogers.
MR. LALLY: And did Ms. Sullivan and Mr. Rogers have a child together?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes, a little boy.
MR. LALLY: And, at some point, did Mr. Rogers pass away?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes.
MR. LALLY: So what was sort of the relationship between your brother and Ms. Sullivan in relation to Mr. Rogers! child?
MR. O'KEEFE: Johnny was -- so she has a son, [REDACTED] who Johnny is godfather to.
MR. LALLY: And sort of towards the end of your stay in Aruba with regard to the pandemic, what, if anything, happens to you or any other member of the family?
MR. O'KEEFE: So my older daughter tested positive for COVID. So her and I kind of got left behind and stayed for an extra three or four days, I believe.
MR. LALLY: So after you returned from Aruba, at some point were you and your brother trying to make plans to connect or to hang out or see each other at some point in January of 2022?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes. We were actually planning on getting together on January 29th.
MR. LALLY: And do you recall what day of the week that was?
MR. O'KEEFE: That was a Saturday.
MR. LALLY: And why was it Saturday? Why were you sort of targeting Saturday as a meet point?
MR. O'KEEFE: The weekend, no work. The kids didn't really have much on the schedule.
MR. LALLY: By that, you mean your kids as well as your niece and nephew?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct. Yes.
MR. LALLY: And then what, if anything, occurred with reference to those plans as far as them coming to fruition or not?
MR. O'KEEFE: A big snowstorm hit the area and, you know, I said, it's probably better if we just stayed home and off the roads. So we kind of cancelled getting together the day before.
MR. LALLY: So you initially had a meeting for the 29th but cancelled it the day before on the 28th?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: So this snowstorm that you were talking about that was coming in, is that something that you and your brother were aware of prior to that day it happened?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes.
MR. LALLY: Okay. And that was something you learned of. Where did you learn about that?
MR. O'KEEFE: The news.
MR. LALLY: So sort of all over the news; is that fair to say?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct. Yes.
MR. LALLY: And, as far as any -- did either you, your children or John's children, for lack of a better term, niece and nephew, were there any sort of planned activities that day that got cancelled because of the weather or not?
MR. O'KEEFE: On a Saturday, the 29th?
MR. LALLY: Yes.
MR. O'KEEFE: I think everything was pretty much cancelled. I don't know of anything specific. My daughters had basketball on Friday night the night before, but we really didn't have any plans for the children on Saturday.
MR. LALLY: Now, turning your attention to that day of the 28th, so the day before that, that was a Friday; is that correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes. Correct.
MR. LALLY: Okay. And you mentioned that your daughters had basketball that evening; is that correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: Okay. And what, if any, role do you have in regard to your daughters' basketball?
MR. O'KEEFE: I coach both of their teams.
MR. LALLY: So you coached two games that Friday night?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: And about what time do you know, if you know, did you sort of get home from all of that?
MR. O'KEEFE: The first game was at six. The second game was at 7:15. So we got home 8:30-ish.
MR. LALLY: And your wife was with you at both of your daughters' games?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: And, when you got home, the snow that had been predicted, had it started at that point where you were?
MR. O'KEEFE: I noticed the first flurries sometime between 10:30 and 11:00 p.m.
MR. LALLY: And, if you know, approximately what time did you go to bed then?
MR. O'KEEFE: Right around probably midnight.
MR. LALLY: And your wife, Erin, did she go to bed at the same time as you?
MR. O'KEEFE: I think she went to bed a little before me. Yes.
MR. LALLY: Now, earlier on that day, on Friday, the 28th, what, if any, conversation by any means did you have with your brother, John?
MR. O'KEEFE: My last communication with him was on a group text exchange that included myself, Karen Read and my mother. And he was excited because [REDACTED] had gotten accepted to Bishop Feehan High School. So he was happy and a proud dad moment. And, you know, [REDACTED]'s national math scores came back and he scored extremely high. So he was extremely proud of QR that day, as well.
MR. LALLY: So your brother, John, had sort of sent that to the group which included yourself, your mother and Ms. Read?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: And your niece, [REDACTED], what grade was she in and what grade was she going into as far as that application?
MR. O'KEEFE: So he was eighth grade, going into ninth, freshman year in high school.
MR. LALLY: Now, you go to bed at some point in the evening of the 28th and you woke up on the 29th. Do you recall what woke you up on that morning?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes. My mother called me at 6:40 a.m.
MR. LALLY: And is that something typical?
MR. O'KEEFE: No. She called and just said something happened to your brother. They found him in the snow, and they took him to the hospital.
MR. LALLY: And which hospital was it?
MR. O'KEEFE: Good Samaritan in Brockton, Massachusetts.
MR. LALLY: And, at that point, did you -- or what, if any, other sort of information did you have as to what had happened to your brother?
MR. O'KEEFE: I really didn't know much until I got to the hospital. While I was at the hospital, my cousin works 911 dispatch. So she came down because she had heard -- and the only thing I was able to get was that he was cold and they needed to warm him up. But I didn't have much information other than that.
MR. LALLY: So you get that information from your cousin when you get to the hospital, correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: And that cousin, what was her name?
MR. O'KEEFE: Susanna Hensley.
MR. LALLY: If I could take you back to just prior, so you initially get the phone call from your mother, Peggy O'Keefe; is that correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: And that's about 6:40 in the morning?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: Okay. And your wife, Erin, is with you at that time; is that correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: And so you get that call and sort of what is it that you do or sort of how quickly are you out the door?
MR. O'KEEFE: I jumped out of bed, got changed, brushed my teeth and I was out the door.
MR. LALLY: And you drove from your house to where?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes. I drove myself from my house to the hospital, the Good Samaritan Hospital.
MR. LALLY: And what kind of car did you have at that point, if you know?
MR. O'KEEFE: A Toyota Forerunner.
MR. LALLY: That is an SUV; is that correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: An SUV. Yes.
MR. LALLY: What color was that?
MR. O'KEEFE: Black.
MR. LALLY: And, as far as the road condition visibility sort of when you're driving from West Bridgewater to Brockton, what, if anything, did you observe as far as how the roads were?
MR. O'KEEFE: Driving was very poor that morning and just continued to get worse throughout the day. So it took me longer than usual than it typically would to drive that distance.
MR. LALLY: Now, as far as your parents were concerned, did they come to the Good Samaritan Hospital, as well?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes. Our friend, Kerry Roberts, picked them up in Braintree and brought them to the hospital in Brockton.
MR. LALLY: And, when you say your friend, Kerry Roberts, how do you know Kerry Roberts?
MR. O'KEEFE: So we grew up in Braintree. She grew up in Braintree, as well. She's two years older than me, knew my brother. They actually -- they went to Homecoming together one year, and she also resides in Canton.
MR. LALLY: So she was someone who had grown up with you and your brother, was friends with you and also friends with your brother, correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: Now, as far as your arrival at the Good Samaritan, who arrived first? Was it you, your parents, or something else?
MR. O'KEEFE: I got there first.
MR. LALLY: And about how long was it, if you know, between the time that you got there and the time that your parents arrived there with Ms. Roberts?
MR. O'KEEFE: Probably about 45 minutes.
MR. LALLY: And, when you arrived at the Good Samaritan Medical Center, where within the facility did you sort of go?
MR. O'KEEFE: Emergency room waiting area/lobby.
MR. LALLY: And at some point after your parents arrived, did you move from the waiting room area to somewhere else within the hospital?
MR. O'KEEFE: So my parents arrived. They brought us, you know, in the double doors into like a little family sitting room.
MR. LALLY: And about how long was it that you were in the family sitting room before you went somewhere else?
MR. O'KEEFE: So we were in that waiting room. A doctor and nurse came in and told us that all their efforts to save my brother were unsuccessful and that he had passed away and then asked if we wanted to go see him and which we said "yes." So we left that room and walked down the hallway to his hospital room.
MR. LALLY: And that doctor that you spoke to, do you recall what the doctor's name was?
MR. O'KEEFE: Dr. Rice.
MR. LALLY: And, when you say that we went down to the room where your brother was, was that everyone in the group?
MR. O'KEEFE: It was myself and my parents. Yes.
MR. LALLY: And Ms. Roberts, did she go, as well, or did she stay behind?
MR. O'KEEFE: No. She stayed out in the waiting area.
MR. LALLY: And, aS you were making your way down to the room where they had your brother, what, if anything, occurred along the way?
MR. O'KEEFE: So I noticed Karen Read was there. She was being restrained by hospital employees and she was, you know, screaming out to us, asking if he was alive.
MR. LALLY: And is that something that she screamed out once, more than once or something else?
MR. O'KEEFE: Several times.
MR. LALLY: Now, at some point, you went into the room where your brother was, correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: Can you describe to the jury sort of what you saw as far as your brother was concerned?
MR. O'KEEFE: I mean, he was pretty banged up. He had -- his eyes had swelled up. He had a breathing tube, well, a mask, anyway; blood coming down his nose, blood coming down his mouth. But what really stood out to me was, you know, the eyes. It was almost as if, like, they were ping pong balls under his eyelids, they were that swollen.
MR. LALLY: Now, in addition to what you observed as far as his eyes, what, if any, other sort of injuries did you observe on any other part of your brother's body?
MR. O'KEEFE: I noticed some markings on his arm. I didn't look at his lower torso area at all because he was, you know, covered by a sheet. So mostly injuries that, you know, we observed was to the head area and the face area.
MR. LALLY: And, when you say "his arm," do you recall whether that was one arm, both arms or which arm in particular?
MR. O'KEEFE: He had markings on his right arm. I didn't notice anything on the other side.
MR. LALLY: You spent some time private as a family with your brother and at some point you left; is that correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes. We were, I would estimate, probably in the room with him for probably 20 minutes until we left.
MR. LALLY: And, after about that 20 minutes, you come back out to the hallway and where are you going?
MR. O'KEEFE: We went back to the waiting area, you know, trying to figure out can we leave, should we leave. So yes. We left. My mother drove with me. My father drove with Kerry Roberts. We went from the hospital, the Good Samaritan in Brockton, back to my brother's house in Canton.
MR. LALLY: And, if I could just take you back for a moment. So as you exit the room where your brother is and you come back out in the hallway, what, if anything, occurred at that time?
MR. O'KEEFE: Again, we saw Karen Read being restrained by hospital employees, screaming the same things, is he alive, is he alive, is he alive.
MR. LALLY: Did you at any point either before or after respond to any of that screaming that you heard from the defendant?
MR. O'KEEFE: I actually blew her a kiss.
MR. LALLY: Now, as far as your relationship with the defendant, Ms. Read, prior to January 29th, 2022, how would you characterize it?
MR. O'KEEFE: I thought we had a good relationship. I held her in very high regard. I thought she was a good influence on my niece and nephew. I appreciated all the help that she was proving for my brother with the kids. We would go out together as, you know, couples a couple of times. She became very friendly with my wife. But I'd say, overall, we had a good relationship.
MR. LALLY: And, as far as those positive feelings that you had in relation to the defendant prior to January 29th, 2022, had you expressed those to either the defendant or any member of her family?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes. So Christmas Eve of 2021 was the first time I met her parents. My brother hosted Christmas Eve at his house. I met Mr. and Mrs. Read. I offered to help Mrs. Read carry some things in from her car. And, as we were walking to the car, I said, you know, I just want to tell you I think your daughter is great. I think -- very appreciative of what she's done for the kids in helping my brother.
MR. LALLY: Now, turning back to that day of January 29th, you go back out to the waiting area; is that correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes.
MR. LALLY: What, if anything, happened or who, if anyone, did you see or speak to when you got out there?
MR. O'KEEFE: I saw her father, Bill Read, come into the hospital. He was picking up Karen as we were pretty much exiting the hospital to head back to Canton.
MR. LALLY: And did you have any conversation with him?
MR. O'KEEFE: I did not.
MR. LALLY: Now, you indicated that you drove with your mother back to Meadows Ave. where your brother lived; is that correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: That's correct.
MR. LALLY: And Ms. Roberts drove with your father back to the same location; is that correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: That is correct.
MR. LALLY: And as far as your understanding sort of on the drive back, where were the kids? Where were [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] at that point?
MR. O'KEEFE: So [REDACTED] was picked up by Mike Camerano, who is [REDACTED]'s best friend's father. [REDACTED] was at a sleepover the night before. So he was still with the family at the house where he slept the night before.
MR. LALLY: Now, you mentioned that the drive from your house to West Bridgewater to Brockton was somewhat difficult, correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Very difficult.
MR. LALLY: How would you characterize the drive from Brockton to your brother's house in Canton?
MR. O'KEEFE: I mean, at one point, I said to my mother, I don't know if we are going to make it back. You know, visibility was terrible, couldn't see the roads. We made it back. It was just a very difficult -- probably the worst driving conditions I've driven in as far as weather.
MR. LALLY: And so then at some point, you in your vehicle, Ms. Roberts in hers and your parents, you arrive at your brother's house in Canton, correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: That's correct.
MR. LALLY: Do you know about what time of day that was?
MR. O'KEEFE: It was mid-morning. So maybe between 10:00 and 11:00 o'clock in the morning.
MR. LALLY: And was there anybody present at the house when you arrived there?
MR. O'KEEFE: No.
MR. LALLY: And, at some point, did other people come over as far as -- specifically, I'm asking about the children.
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes. So [REDACTED] was dropped off shortly after we arrived and then a little while after that, [REDACTED] was dropped off from a sleepover.
MR. LALLY: And, at some point, you were tasked with informing the children what happened to your brother, correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: At some point after you left the hospital in Brockton, what, if any, conversation or what, if any, phone calls did you receive in relation to the defendant, Ms. Read?
MR. O'KEEFE: Karen Read called me and asked me if it was okay to come over to see the kids. And I said, sure.
MR. LALLY: And do you know about how long that phone call went on for?
MR. O'KEEFE: It was a quick phone call. Maybe a minute. Like I said, she just asked if she could come over. And I said, sure. She arrived at the house, you know, shortly thereafter.
MR. LALLY: When you initially arrived at the house along with your parents and Ms. Roberts in her vehicle, what, if any, other vehicles did you observe sort of in the driveway at that time?
MR. O'KEEFE: I noticed, I think, my brother's car. I don't even recall seeing any other cars. I mean, there could have been a car in the garage, but I didn't notice, really. Nothing stands out.
MR. LALLY: What kind of car did your brother have?
MR. O'KEEFE: A Chevy Traverse.
MR. LALLY: And what color was that, if you know?
MR. O'KEEFE: Like gray.
MR. LALLY: And, if you recall when you first sort of arrived there, where was that vehicle parked in relation to the driveway?
MR. O'KEEFE: I believe it was the right side of the driveway, all the way down at the end of the drive, like the top of the driveway.
MR. LALLY: Okay. Now, you had the phone call with the defendant. You indicated it was fine for her to come over. Do you know about how long it was after receiving that phone call and when Ms. Read arrived there?
MR. O'KEEFE: Twenty to 30 minutes, maybe.
MR. LALLY: And, when she arrived at your brother's house, who, if anyone, was she with?
MR. O'KEEFE: She was with her father.
MR. LALLY: And, at some point, was there anyone else from her family that came over the house that morning, as well?
MR. O'KEEFE: Her brother and his wife showed up shortly after she arrived with her father, yes.
MR. LALLY: And how many cars, if you know, did they come in between sort of the --
MR. O'KEEFE: They each took separate vehicles. So two cars arrived.
MR. LALLY: And Ms. Read's vehicle? Do you know where that vehicle was in relation to your brother's house at that time?
MR. O'KEEFE: It was either in the driveway or in the garage. I'm not positive.
MR. LALLY: So fair to say it was at the house, correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: It was at the house, yes.
MR. LALLY: So between the Read family, there's at least three vehicles at your brother's house now, correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: Now, the defendant, you mentioned that you had met her father before on Christmas Eve; is that right?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: Had you met her brother or brother's wife prior to that day?
MR. O'KEEFE: No.
MR. LALLY: And you were in the house when they arrived; is that correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: When Karen and her father arrived, I was shoveling the walkway out front.
MR. LALLY: And, in total, about how much time was the defendant at your brother's house that morning when she came?
MR. O'KEEFE: I would probably say about 30 minutes.
MR. LALLY: And, at that point when the defendant arrived, was either [REDACTED] or [REDACTED] or both home at that time?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes. They were -- [REDACTED] had come home first and then [REDACTED] had come home. I think [REDACTED] may have come home while they were there.
MR. LALLY: And you mentioned when they arrived, you were out shoveling sort of the front walk, correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes.
MR. LALLY: And, when they arrived, did you go in the house with them or did you continue shoveling or something else?
MR. O'KEEFE: I continued shoveling for a very short period of time and went in the house pretty much right after they did.
MR. LALLY: And, when you got in the house, what was it sort of that you were doing at that time?
MR. O'KEEFE: I mean, we had just told [REDACTED] when it happened, and we were waiting for [REDACTED] to get home. So we're kind of just congregated in the kitchen.
MR. LALLY: When you say "we," who exactly are you talking about?
MR. O'KEEFE: Sorry. Myself, my mother and my father.
MR. LALLY: Was Ms. Roberts still there or had she gone home? If you know.
MR. O'KEEFE: I don't recall.
MR. LALLY: And so in addition to yourself, your mother and your father, Ms. Read, her father, and any other sort of members of her family, where were they within the house at that time?
MR. O'KEEFE: So mainly the kitchen at first. When [REDACTED] came home, we kind of took him to like the side room where the kids hang out, talked to him in that room. And then we were in the kitchen. Then Ms. Read and her father went upstairs.
MR. LALLY: And, when you sat down with [REDACTED] to tell him what had happened to your brother, who, if anyone else, was with you at that point?
MR. O'KEEFE: Karen Read.
MR. LALLY: And, at some point subsequent to that, you went back to the kitchen, correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes.
MR. LALLY: Okay. And where was it that the defendant and her father went?
MR. O'KEEFE: Upstairs into the bedroom.
MR. LALLY: And, if you know, about how long were they in the upstairs area of the house?
MR. O'KEEFE: I would say 10 to 15 minutes.
MR. LALLY: And did you see them as they came down the stairs?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes. So I was on the phone a few times. So I didn't watch them walk upstairs. But I saw them come downstairs, you know, turn the corner at the bottom of the stairs. She had some of her belongings that she had taken from the bedroom.
MR. LALLY: And where did she go with those belongings?
MR. O'KEEFE: They left. Like I said, they were probably there for 30 minutes. They got in their cars and drove back to Dighton, Massachusetts.
MR. LALLY: And, when you say got back in their cars, you mentioned three cars that had been there in the driveway or in the area of the house, correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: When the defendant left, how many of those cars remained?
MR. O'KEEFE: Zero.
MR. LALLY: And, as far as the weather conditions that you had mentioned that existed at the time when you drove from the hospital in Brockton to your brother's home in Canton, what, if any, improvement occurred with the weather during that time frame?
MR. O'KEEFE: None.
MR. LALLY: So essentially the same; is that fair to say?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yeah. The conditions were still poor.
MR. LALLY: Now, with respect to Ms. Read's vehicle, did you know what kind of vehicle Ms. Read had?
MR. O'KEEFE: A Lexus SUV. I don't know the actual model.
JUDGE CANNONE: Mr. Lally, that clock is actually wrong. It's just about 1:00 o'clock. So is this a good place to take a break?
MR. LALLY: Perfectly fine, yes.
JUDGE CANNONE: All right. Jurors, it is time for the luncheon break. We will break for an hour. We will be here, ready to go, no later than 2:00 o'clock.
(Whereupon, the jury is escorted from the courtroom for the luncheon recess.)
COURT REPORTER: We are back on the record -- please identify yourselves --
MS. MCLAUGHLIN: Laura McLaughlin, for the D.A.'s office.
MS. LITTLE: Elizabeth Little, for the defendant.
COURT REPORTER: -- to premark exhibits that are agreed upon.
MS. MCLAUGHLIN: Exhibit 15.
MS. LITTLE: No objection.
MS. MCLAUGHLIN: Exhibit 16.
MS. LITTLE: No objection.
MS. MCLAUGHLIN: Exhibit 17.
MS. LITTLE: No objection.
MS. MCLAUGHLIN: Exhibit 18.
MS. LITTLE: No objection.
MS. MCLAUGHLIN: Exhibit 19.
MS. LITTLE: No objection.
MS. MCLAUGHLIN: Exhibit 20.
MS. LITTLE: No objection.
MS. MCLAUGHLIN: Exhibit 21.
MS. LITTLE: No objection.
MS. MCLAUGHLIN: Exhibit 22.
MS. LITTLE: No objection.
MS. MCLAUGHLIN: Exhibit 23.
MS. LITTLE: No objection.
MS. MCLAUGHLIN: And Exhibit 24.
MS. LITTLE: No objection.
(Whereupon, photographs were entered and marked Exhibits No. 15 through and including Exhibit No. 24 in Evidence.)
COURT REPORTER: Exhibits 15 through 24 marked.
(Whereupon, the luncheon recess is taken.)
COURT REPORTER: A-F-T-E-R-N-O-O-N S-E-S-S-I-O-N
(Court resumes at 2:01 p.m.)
(Defendant present. Jury present.)
COURT REPORTER: THE DEFENDANT: All right, Mr. Lally. Can we have Mr. O'Keefe again, please?
MR. LALLY: Yes.
JUDGE CANNONE: All right. Whenever you are ready, Mr. Lally.
MR. LALLY: Thank you, Your Honor.
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: So, Mr. O'Keefe, when you were testifying before the luncheon recess before, you had indicated that the defendant, Ms. Read, had gone upstairs for some period of time; is that correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: Okay. And that's at your brother's house on Meadows Ave.?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: And who, if anyone, had she gone upstairs with?
MR. O'KEEFE: Her father.
MR. LALLY: And about how long were they upstairs for?
MR. O'KEEFE: Ten, 15 minutes.
MR. LALLY: And, as far as -- was there anyone else in the upstairs area of the home with them at the time they were upstairs?
MR. O'KEEFE: No, not that I'm aware of.
MR. LALLY: Now, as far as Ms. Read was concerned, what, if any, conversation did you have with her while she was at the house for that period of 30 minutes or so?
MR. O'KEEFE: None, really.
MR. LALLY: And, as far as any other members of her family, without any reference to what it was, what, if any, sort of substantial conversation -- what, if any, conversations did you have with either her father, her brother or the brother's wife?
MR. O'KEEFE: Again, none, not really. I didn't really have much interaction with any of them while they were at the house.
MR. LALLY: Now, you're obviously familiar with your brother's house on Meadows Ave.; is that correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes.
MR. LALLY: And, as far as the house, itself, what, if any, sort of security did your brother have installed on that house on Meadows Ave.?
MR. O'KEEFE: He had a Ring doorbell and a Ring camera/floodlight combination above the garage doors, overlooking the driveway.
MR. LALLY: And, when you say the doorbell, how many sort of points of -- how many doors or entrances into the house were there?
MR. O'KEEFE: With cameras, I would say two. I mean, the driveway and then the main front door of the house.
MR. LALLY: Your Honor, may I approach the witness?
JUDGE CANNONE: Yes.
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: I show you just three photographs marked as Exhibits 2, 3 and 4. If you could just look at those briefly and look up when you're finished.
MR. O'KEEFE: (Witness complies.)
MR. LALLY: And, generally speaking, sir, do you recognize what's depicted in those three photographs?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes. The first --
MR. LALLY: Well, before we get to them, just in general, do you recognize those?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes.
MR. LALLY: Okay. And what do you recognize this -- in general terms, what do you recognize them to be photographs of?
MR. O'KEEFE: That's my brother's house at One Meadows Ave. in Canton.
MR. LALLY: Ms. Gilman, if I could have Exhibit 2 up on the screen. Your Honor, may I approach again?
JUDGE CANNONE: Yes.
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: What I'm going to hand you here is a laser pointer. Basically, just click this button here and point it at whatever you'd like to.
MR. O'KEEFE: Okay
MR. LALLY: And, again, sir, what's up on the screen is Exhibit No. 2. What are we looking at here?
MR. O'KEEFE: That is my brother's house at One Meadows Ave. in Canton.
MR. LALLY: And, as far as the Ring doorbell camera that you were referring to, is that something that's visible in this photograph?
MR. O'KEEFE: Not in that photograph, no.
MR. LALLY: And so typically when you would come over to your brother's house, what would be sort of the general point or door that you would use to go inside the house?
MR. O'KEEFE: So either the garage door or there is a side door right behind that bush.
MR. LALLY: So behind that bush is there any sort of like walkway or anything like that over there?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes. There was a walkway that leads up to a couple of steps and then to the entryway.
MR. LALLY: And is that where the Ring doorbell would have been located, labeled as sort of the front door?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes.
MR. LALLY: The garage area with the driveway that you were referencing in relation to this photograph, it's not depicted in this photograph; is that fair to say?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: So which sort of -- with relation to this photograph, understanding that it's not depicted in it, where would that be?
MR. O'KEEFE: The driveway would be to the right side of the house as we are viewing it from here.
MR. LALLY: And if I could turn your attention to the next Exhibit No. 3. And, Ms. Gilman, if I could have that? And what's up on the screen, is that what you have before you as Exhibit No. 3?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: And whereabouts in relation to the house? What are we looking at here?
MR. O'KEEFE: So that would be the driveway, right side of the house, two garage doors, the upstairs window, and the Ring camera/floodlight combination.
MR. LALLY: Now, with respect to the garage, was there a particular way that your brother would have kept sort of the garage area?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yeah. He had -- on the left side, he hada 1971 Ford LTD parked over on that side. And he would typically park his car on the right side.
MR. LALLY: The car that you were talking about before, that being the Chevy Traverse; is that correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: And so the floodlight combination with the camera, you see that in this photograph; is that correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes.
MR. LALLY: If you could, just using the laser pointer, direct the jury's attention to that.
MR. O'KEEFE: Right under the window.
MR. LALLY: Thank you, sir. And, as far as the particular Ring cameras between the driveway/garage one and the front door, that sort of side entryway there, who, if anyone, as far as you knew, had access to those particular cameras or how would they be accessed?
MR. O'KEEFE: Most likely through the Ring app on their cell phone. I believe the only ones who had access to it was my brother and Karen Read.
MR. LALLY: And, as far as your brother --
MR. YANNETTI: Objection. Move to strike.
JUDGE CANNONE: All right. I'll strike that. So you can lay a foundation.
MR. LALLY: Sure.
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: As far as your brother was concerned, what, if anything, would he do with reference to those Ring cameras and his app on his phone when people arrive at his house?
MR. O'KEEFE: I mean, a few times he'd talk to me through a speaker. You know, if I pulled up to the house and he wasn't home, he would speak to me on it. But I'm not sure if I followed the entire question.
MR. LALLY: And that's -- so there were points where you would come to the house, correct, and he wasn't there?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes.
MR. LALLY: And he would sort of talk to you through the Ring application; is that fair to say?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes.
MR. LALLY: Okay. Now, as far as Ms. Read was concerned, when you say you believe she had access to it, what leads you to believe that?
MR. O'KEEFE: I believe the kids had mentioned it before, [REDACTED] and [REDACTED], mostly [REDACTED].
MR. YANNETTI: Objection. Move to strike.
JUDGE CANNONE: All right. I'm going to strike that.
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: Now, if I could draw your attention to the next exhibit before you, Exhibit No. 4. And, again, sir, what's up on the screen, is that what you have before you as Exhibit 4?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: And, if you could, describe for the jury sort of what part of the house we are looking at here and what, if anything, in relation to the Ring did you observe there?
MR. O'KEEFE: That is also the driveway from a different view. I'll call it the top of the driveway, looking down onto the street. In this picture here, the Ring camera or the floodlight Ring is not visible.
MR. LALLY: And the walkway that you were talking about that was behind the bush, do you see that in this photograph?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes.
MR. LALLY: Okay. If you could direct the jury's attention to where that is?
MR. O'KEEFE: (Indicating. )
MR. LALLY: So if you follow that walkway sort of around to the bush, where does that lead you?
MR. O'KEEFE: Right to the breezeway door.
MR. LALLY: Thank you.
MR. LALLY: If I may approach just to retrieve, Your Honor?
JUDGE CANNONE: Yes.
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: Now, Mr. O'Keefe, the ring camera that we are talking about, have you seen those on like a disk form; is that correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Have I seem them on a disk form? I'm not sure if I follow that question.
MR. LALLY: Sure. Have you viewed any Ring camera footage from either the front door or the driveway to your brother's house?
MR. O'KEEFE: No. I didn't have access.
MR. LALLY: Your Honor, may we approach?
JUDGE CANNONE: Yes. Counsel?
(Whereupon, there was a sidebar conference as follows:)
MR. LALLY: So they are not marked as exhibits yet but what I'd like to do is show this witness some video from the Ring, whether she's on the Ring footage or it comes from that day. So I am just --
JUDGE CANNONE: Is this going to be an agreed-upon exhibit? Is this going to be an agreed-upon exhibit?
MR. LALLY: I believe so, but I --
MR. JACKSON: Just explain which one it is, which Ring video it is.
MR. LALLY: Probably the -- I think there was one when he arrives back at the house from the hospital, along with his friends and Ms. Roberts and then there is when Ms. Read arrives with her father and then basically just to identify who these people are in these videos. And then there's a couple just in reference to sort of snow removal from the driveway and when that occurred.
MR. YANNETTI: We have no objection to that.
JUDGE CANNONE: That's fine. So let's mark it as an exhibit.
MR. YANNETTI: That's fine.
JUDGE CANNONE: Okay.
(Whereupon, the sidebar is concluded.)
JUDGE CANNONE: Do you have something to mark as an exhibit?
MR. LALLY: Yes, Your Honor. So there are two disks, one labeled "Meadows Ave. Ring videos" --
JUDGE CANNONE: So they've already been marked?
MR. LALLY: They've already been marked.
JUDGE CANNONE: All right. So the next -- go right ahead. Let us know if you want the lights dimmed or not, Mr. Lally.
MR. LALLY: Yes, please.
JUDGE CANNONE: Do you want that now?
MR. LALLY: Yes.
JUDGE CANNONE: If you would, please. Thank you.
MR. LALLY: So, Ms. Gilman, if I could have, from what's been marked as Exhibit 6, the driveway camera. If I could have Video No. 161. And, if you could, just pause that just for a moment.
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: Now, Mr. O'Keefe, what's up on the screen there, do you generally recognize what is depicted there?
MR. O'KEEFE: It looks like Karen Read's vehicle, my brother's vehicle and it looks like another SUV behind it.
MR. LALLY: If you could, just using the laser pointer before you, if you could just direct the jury's attention to which vehicle you're talking about when you -- so starting with Ms. Read's vehicle, where is it in this vehicle that you observed that?
MR. O'KEEFE: I believe it's that one right there.
MR. LALLY: And your brother's vehicle?
MR. O'KEEFE: Is back there.
MR. LALLY: And the vehicle you're referring to as your vehicle, where is that?
MR. O'KEEFE: (Indicating. )
MR. LALLY: If you know, when about is this video depicting in relation to what you've described as the events of January 29th?
MR. O'KEEFE: I mean, that would be in the morning, coming back from the hospital that morning.
MR. LALLY: And, as far as the people within this video, do you recognize any of the people within the video?
MR. O'KEEFE: That would be myself. I believe that behind me is -- it could be Kerry Roberts, because I believe that's Kerry Roberts' car. She drove my father back from the hospital to One Meadows.
MR. LALLY: And, Ms. Gilman, if you could, just run the video from there.
(Whereupon, the video was played.)
MR. O'KEEFE: That's my mother.
MR. LALLY: Thank you. Ms. Gilman, from the same exhibit, if I could have the video marked 165? Again, Ms. Gilman, if you could just pause that briefly.
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: Now, with respect to this video, do you recognize the vehicle that just pulled into the driveway here?
MR. O'KEEFE: That looks like Karen Read in the photo, in the video. I assume that's her father's car.
MR. LALLY: So this would have been the time that Ms. Read and the defendant arrived with her family from the hospital, as well?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: And, Ms. Gilman, if you could just run that through.
(Whereupon, the video was played.)
MR. LALLY: Thank you. If I could ask for the next labeled video from Exhibit 6, No. 166. Ms. Gillman, if I could ask you to pause there just briefly.
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: Now, Mr. O'Keefe, with the last video with the two individuals sort of walking over to the house, do you recognize who those were?
MR. O'KEEFE: They appear to be Karen Read and her father.
MR. LALLY: And the individual who just got out of the same vehicle, do you recognize that person?
MR. O'KEEFE: That appears to be Karen Read's brother, Nathan.
MR. LALLY: And, again, this particular day, January 29th, at your brother's house, that's the first time that you met him; is that correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: And, Ms. Gillman, if you could, just play this one to the end, as well.
(Whereupon, the video was played.)
MR. LALLY: Thank you. Ms. Gillman, from the same Exhibit No. 6, if I could have Video 169? If you could pause it just there for a moment, please.
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: Now, as far as you mentioned earlier in your testimony that after Ms. Read arrived at the house that your nephew, [REDACTED], came home, as well?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: And do you see your nephew, [REDACTED], in this video up on the screen now?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes.
MR. LALLY: So this would depict when he got dropped off, essentially?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: Ms. Gilman, if you could, just run that through, as well.
(Whereupon, the video was played.)
MR. LALLY: Ms. Gilman, from the same Exhibit 6, if I could have No. 176? Pause that right there, please.
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: Now, from this video, you referenced earlier in your testimony Ms. Read had gathered some belongings and then had left with all of the vehicles that her family came in, correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Correct.
MR. LALLY: And do you recognize anyone depicted in this Video No. 176?
MR. O'KEEFE: That's Karen Read.
MR. LALLY: And what, if anything, do you observe in this video of her to have in her hand at that time?
MR. O'KEEFE: It looks like some type of a bag.
MR. LALLY: And, Ms. Gilman, if you could, just play this one through.
(Whereupon, the video was played.)
MR. LALLY: Thank you. Now, Ms. Gilman, if I could have from the same Exhibit 6 No. 178. If I could ask you to just pause it right there.
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: Now, Mr. O'Keefe, you were at your brother's house on Meadows Ave. for a majority of that day, correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes.
MR. LALLY: About how long were you there? Into the evening?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes.
MR. LALLY: And, at some point, were attempts made in and around your brother's house, the driveway, the walkway, things of that nature, as far as snow removal was concerned?
MR. O'KEEFE: At one point, other than me shoveling, [REDACTED]'s friend's father came with a snow blower.
MR. LALLY: So initially it was you, shoveling. What, if anything, was your father doing while you were shoveling, as well?
MR. O'KEEFE: It was just me shoveling.
MR. LALLY: Just you shoveling. Okay. And do you recognize what's depicted up in this video as far as any individuals in this video?
MR. O'KEEFE: I believe that is me standing there with a shovel.
MR. LALLY: And, Ms. Gilman, if you could just play this?
(Whereupon, the video was played.)
MR. LALLY: Ms. Gilman, from that same Exhibit 6, could I have Video No. 185? Ms. Gilman, if you could just pause it right there?
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: Now, in reference to the snow blower coming out or sort of the father of [REDACTED]'s friends, do you recognize anybody in this video here?
MR. O'KEEFE: I'm assuming that's the father of R's friend, but I'm not sure.
MR. LALLY: So fair to say this was later in the day after you were out there, shoveling, and after the defendant had left the house; is that correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes.
MR. LALLY: Okay. And with regard to that particular day of January 29th, do you recall any law enforcement, whether they be Canton P.D. or state police, coming to the house while you were there that day?
MR. O'KEEFE: Not on the 29th, no.
MR. LALLY: And, during the course of clearing sort of the driveway out as far aS snow or ice, what, if anything, did you observe as far as beyond just sort of snow and ice? Were there any sort of other items within the driveway that you recall seeing or --
MR. O'KEEFE: Not that I'm aware of, no.
MR. LALLY: And, Ms. Gilman, if you could just play this video through.
(Whereupon, the video was played.)
MR. LALLY: And lastly from this exhibit, Ms. Gilman, if you could from Exhibit 6 pull up Video No. 239?
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: Mr. O'Keefe, what's up on the screen right now, is that essentially what the driveway looked like at the end of sort of the snow blowing and the shoveling and snow removal that day?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes.
MR. LALLY: And that vehicle towards the top, that's your vehicle; is that correct?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes.
MR. LALLY: And this was around the time that you would have been leaving your brother's house on January 29th?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes.
MR. LALLY: Mr. Court Officer, we can have the lights back up. Thank you. May I approach the witness, Your Honor?
JUDGE CANNONE: Yes.
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: I'm showing what's been marked as Exhibit No. 1. Do you recognize that?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes.
MR. LALLY: Ms. Gilman, if I could have Exhibit 1 up on the screen? And, Ms. Gilman, if you could just enlarge that a little? Thank you very much.
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: Now, what's up on the screen, Mr. O'Keefe, is that what you have before you as Exhibit No. 2?
MR. O'KEEFE: Yes.
MR. LALLY: And what are we looking at in this exhibit, sir?
MR. O'KEEFE: That's my brother.
MR. LALLY: And, as far as your earlier testimony in regard to the vehicle that he kept sort of on the left side of the garage, what, if anything do you recognize?
MR. O'KEEFE: It's depicted in the picture. It's a convertible 1971 Ford LTD.
MR. LALLY: And, with reference to that vehicle, how did your brother feel about that vehicle?
MR. O'KEEFE: He enjoyed it. He thought it was fun driving around, you know, in a convertible. My nephew, [REDACTED], enjoyed, you know, being driven to baseball games and whatnot.
MR. LALLY: And your niece, [REDACTED]? How did she feel about it?
MR. O'KEEFE: She did not like it. She still doesn't.
MR. LALLY: May I approach just to retrieve, Your Honor?
JUDGE CANNONE: Yes.
MR. LALLY: I have nothing further.
MR. YANNETTI: Mr. O'Keefe, sir, I have no questions for you.
JUDGE CANNONE: All right. Mr. O'Keefe, you are all set, sir.
MR. O'KEEFE: Thank you.
(Whereupon, the witness is excused.)
MR. LALLY: Your Honor, the Commonwealth would call Mrs. Erin O'Keefe to the stand.