Steven Saraf - Direct

MR. LALLY: Yes. The Commonwealth will call Officer Steven Saraf to the stand.

MR. LALLY: Thank you. Good afternoon, sir.

MR. LALLY: Could you please state your name and spell your last name for the record?

MR. LALLY: And how long have you been a member of the Canton Police Department?

MR. LALLY: Were you working with the Canton Police Department on January 28th into January 29th of 2022?

MR. LALLY: Do you recall what shift you were working on that occasion?

MR. LALLY: Midnight to 8 a.m.? Is that correct?

MR. LALLY: And were you dispatched to a call at approximately 6:05 a.m.?

MR. LALLY: And if you recall, what was the dispatch in regard to, and where specifically were you dispatched to?

MR. LALLY: Now, that particular area of Canton, are you familiar with that area of Canton?

MR. LALLY: And as far as the town of Canton is concerned with respect to the Police Department, is there any sort of different sectors within the town that you would be assigned to patrol?

MR. LALLY: And the area of Fairview Road, would that be within your sector?

MR. LALLY: And how many sectors within the town of Canton are there?

MR. LALLY: Now, that particular area of Fairview Road, what type of area is that? Is it residential, commercial, or something else?

MR. LALLY: And the roadway of Fairview Road, there's houses on that roadway? Is that correct?

MR. LALLY: Is there any sort of — it's a paved roadway? Is that correct?

MR. LALLY: The lanes, are they divided by any sort of lines in the middle of it?

MR. LALLY: And who if anyone owns or maintains that particular road?

MR. LALLY: Now, you received that dispatch. Where were you if you recall when you received the dispatch?

MR. LALLY: And with respect to the evening of the 28th into the morning of the 29th, what if anything were you aware of as far as a forecast of the weather or something sort of impending coming in?

MR. LALLY: So there was a snowstorm that had been predicted? Is that correct?

MR. LALLY: Okay. There was a snowstorm actually occurring around that time, just after 6 a.m.?

MR. LALLY: And at the time that you're responding, a little after 6:00 a.m., was it light out, dark out, or something else?

MR. LALLY: And the time, if you know, how much time elapsed sort of between the time that you received the call and the time that you arrived in that area?

MR. LALLY: During the course of — you had been working since midnight? Correct?

MR. LALLY: And over the course of your work throughout that evening, had you — or what if anything had you noticed with regard to snow removal, as far as town plows or anything like that?

MR. LALLY: Were they plowing?

MR. LALLY: So there had been some sort of treatment or plowing to the roads prior to your response, as far as you know?

MR. LALLY: What were sort of the road conditions or the visibility or anything like that if you recall during your response time?

MR. LALLY: And if you recall, sir, what was sort of the path of travel that you took? You mentioned you were in the church parking lot next to the police station? Correct?

MR. LALLY: And where is the police station located?

MR. LALLY: And so what was sort of the path of travel that you took from the church lot next to the police station to Fairview?

MR. LALLY: And when you were approaching Fairview Road, are you taking a right or a left or something else?

MR. LALLY: And as you were taking that right onto Fairview, what if anything happened with your vehicle as you were taking that?

MR. LALLY: And that particular — coming from the Chapman side of Fairview, Fairview goes from Chapman and then it goes down to sort of — let's say the bottom of the street, it connects with another street? Is that correct?

MR. LALLY: And what is that street?

MR. LALLY: Cedarcrest. And if you're coming from the Chapman side down to the Cedarcrest side, what if anything is there as far as an elevation — like is it uphill, downhill, or flat?

MR. LALLY: Now, as you are driving down Fairview, you mentioned it was dark outside? Correct?

MR. LALLY: So what if anything, beyond sort of the headlights on your cruiser, did you utilize for assistance as you were driving down Fairview?

MR. LALLY: And if I could just ask you a little bit about the type of vehicle that you were driving — so was it — what kind of police cruiser were you driving?

MR. LALLY: So an SUV?

MR. LALLY: And as far as those — or the particular cruiser that you were driving on that occasion, what if anything is it equipped with as far as cameras or anything like that within the vehicle?

MR. LALLY: And so as you're driving down Fairview, you reach out and start to utilize your spotlight. Sort of where is that located on the cruiser?

MR. LALLY: And is that a spotlight that's outside of the cruiser or inside of the cruiser? Where is it located?

MR. LALLY: Okay. So you have some sort of tool within the cruiser where you can manipulate where it points?

MR. LALLY: And as you're coming down there, utilizing that spotlight, what if anything do you observe out in front of you?

MR. LALLY: And initially when you see these three people in the snow, do you have any idea sort of who they are? Male, female, anything like that?

MR. LALLY: And so when you initially are sort of approaching or getting to the residence, you indicate you see the three women waving at you. Could you see -- or what if anything could you see -- the body at that point?

MR. LALLY: So you could see the three women and you could see a person on the ground?

MR. LALLY: And at some point subsequent to this, did you learn the identity of the person on the ground?

MR. LALLY: And who did you learn that was?

MR. LALLY: And prior to this day, prior to this dispatch, did you know John O'Keefe in any way?

MR. LALLY: Now the three females that you saw sort of around Mr. O'Keefe lying on the ground -- at some point later, did you subsequently identify who those three people were?

MR. LALLY: And who did you identify?

MR. LALLY: Now you arrive on scene, and I'm assuming you get out of your cruiser. Is that correct?

MR. LALLY: What if anything did you do?

MR. LALLY: Back just for a second -- so you indicated that you checked for a pulse. Correct?

MR. LALLY: And where on Mr. O'Keefe did you check?

MR. LALLY: Is that correct?

MR. LALLY: And when you made contact with sort of the skin area in his carotid area on his neck, what if anything did you observe as far as Mr. O'Keefe?

MR. LALLY: Now when you did this, Mr. O'Keefe -- you mentioned -- was sort of on the ground. Correct?

MR. LALLY: And how is he sort of positioned on the ground?

MR. LALLY: And as far as your observations of Mr. O'Keefe during this initial time when you're checking the pulse, what if anything did you observe sort of on him or around him or anything like that?

MR. LALLY: Let me ask it a different way. So as far as -- you mentioned that when you arrived there it was snowing out. Correct?

MR. LALLY: Okay, and so how much snow was in and around or on top of Mr. O'Keefe when you first arrived?

MR. LALLY: And what if any observations did you make of Mr. O'Keefe and sort of how he was dressed at this time that you observed?

MR. LALLY: Now with reference to the residence at 34 Fairview Road -- if you're standing in front of the house on the street facing the house, which side of the property was Mr. O'Keefe lying on his back? As you're facing the house, is he more to the center of the property, the right of the property, or the left?

MR. LALLY: Left of the property. Now in addition to Mr. O'Keefe, in this sort of area on the left side of the property, what if any sort of other landmarks or other things did you observe on that side of the property?

MR. LALLY: Now with reference to -- there was snow on the ground. Correct?

MR. LALLY: What if anything else did you note as far as the weather conditions -- as far as wind, temperature, or anything like that?

MR. LALLY: And how cold -- obviously January, it's snowing out -- it was cold, but how cold was it, if you know, when you first left?

MR. LALLY: So you pull up in that area. With the three females, are they to your right or to your left?

MR. LALLY: Which side of the cruiser were the three females and Mr. O'Keefe when you pull up and stop?

MR. LALLY: And what if any other vehicles did you observe sort of in the roadway in that area where the three females were and Mr. O'Keefe?

MR. LALLY: And do you recall anything about that vehicle -- like what type it was, what color or anything like that?

MR. LALLY: Now with regard to the three females you identified as Miss Read, Miss McCabe, and Miss Roberts -- do you recall where they were in relation to Mr. O'Keefe, each of them, when you first sort of pull up and get out of your cruiser?

MR. LALLY: Now in addition to yourself, there are other First Responders that were dispatched to the scene as well. Is that correct?

MR. LALLY: And of them, who if anyone else was on scene at the time that you arrived?

MR. LALLY: You were the first to arrive on scene, and then Mullaney comes a couple minutes later?

MR. LALLY: About how long was it between when Officer Mullaney arrives and when the fire department arrives?

MR. LALLY: Then at some point after that, Sergeant Goode comes. Is that correct?

MR. LALLY: Sergeant Goode is a sergeant with your department?

MR. LALLY: Okay. Now the fire department -- when they arrived, do you recall what type of apparatus they had that arrived on scene?

MR. LALLY: So to your recollection it was at least an ambulance and an engine?

MR. LALLY: When you were in transit, sort of coming from the church parking lot next to the station to 34 Fairview -- what if anything did you have activated on your cruiser as far as lights or sirens or anything like that?

MR. LALLY: As far as the time -- this is shortly after 6:00 a.m. in a blizzard -- what if any sort of other vehicular traffic did you observe in route from the church parking lot to 34 Fairview?

MR. LALLY: So you go to get your AED device from your cruiser. Is that correct?

MR. LALLY: And around that time that you're retrieving that, what happens?

MR. LALLY: Now beyond sort of just checking the pulse -- as far as around that time when you were checking the pulse in the carotid area for Mr. O'Keefe -- what if any other observations did you make with regard to any injuries or anything else on Mr. O'Keefe?

MR. LALLY: So there was blood on his face that was wiped away?

MR. LALLY: Now when the fire department arrives on scene and they sort of take over resuscitative efforts with regard to Mr. O'Keefe -- is that correct?

MR. LALLY: And the person you identified as Miss Read -- firstly, do you see that person in the courtroom today?

MR. LALLY: Could you just identify -- as to where she's seated or an article of clothing?

MR. LALLY: Just ask the record to reflect identification by the witness.

MR. LALLY: After the fire department arrived and they sort of take over resuscitative efforts with regard to Mr. O'Keefe, what if any observations did you make of Miss Read and what she was doing or saying at that --

MR. LALLY: And with that specific phraseology — that's something that she kept saying?

MR. LALLY: And by your repetitive description, I'm assuming that was something she said more than once?

MR. LALLY: And when she's saying this, can you describe sort of how she's saying this? I mean, is it a whisper, is it a scream, or is it something —

MR. LALLY: And with regard to her repetitive question as far as "Is he dead?" — what if any response did you provide

MR. LALLY: Now, at some point did you direct Miss Read, the defendant, to somewhere else — away from Mr. O'Keefe?

MR. LALLY: And did she stay in that cruiser for any —

MR. LALLY: So sort of in and out of whatever car you put her into?

MR. LALLY: When she would come out of the car, where would she go?

MR. LALLY: Now, with reference to Mr. O'Keefe — he's laying on his back on the ground — that location, where was that in relation to the roadway at Fairview Road?

MR. LALLY: So if it's 20 feet off of the road, is it fair to say that was on sort of the front lawn of 34 Fairview?

MR. LALLY: And at some point the fire department takes Mr. O'Keefe's body off of the lawn — is that correct?

MR. LALLY: And where were you in relation to Mr. O'Keefe when that happened?

MR. LALLY: And if you don't remember, do you recall anything about sort of what the ground looked like when Mr. O'Keefe was lifted up?

MR. LALLY: Now, that area around where Mr. O'Keefe was — when you initially came up, you see him on the ground and you check for a pulse — if anything, did you note around Mr. O'Keefe's body as far as the condition of, or disturbance of, the snow around —

MR. LALLY: And so the position that Mr. O'Keefe is lying on his back on the lawn — correct?

MR. LALLY: Is his head closer to the house or the street, or something else?

MR. LALLY: And the footprints that you're talking about — was that between sort of his feet and the street, or above his head, or where was it in relation to —

MR. LALLY: And as far as beyond sort of the immediate area above his head — between his head and the house — what if any footprints, or what if any disturbance of snow, did you observe up there?

MR. LALLY: Now, Officer Saraf, about how long was it that you were on scene?

MR. LALLY: And at some point the fire department transports Mr. O'Keefe from the scene — is that correct?

MR. LALLY: And do you know to what facility he was transported to?

MR. LALLY: And after Mr. O'Keefe was taken away by the fire department, as far as the three females — Miss Read, Miss McCabe, and Miss Roberts — do you know where they went or what they did following that?

MR. LALLY: Now, at any point in the time that you were on scene, before they left, did you have any conversation with any of the three of them?

MR. LALLY: And who specifically did you talk to, if you recall?

MR. LALLY: Let me just stop — as far as, just sticking with Miss Read — you asked her what happened and you indicated she didn't really tell you much. Why not? What was her condition like at that point?

MR. LALLY: So the same upset that you were describing earlier — did that sort of continue throughout the time that she was on scene while you were there?

MR. LALLY: And at some point did you speak to Miss McCabe — without reference to what she told you. I'm sorry, at some point while you're on scene, did you speak to either Miss McCabe or Miss Roberts — without reference to what they told you? No — I mean, let me rephrase. At some point when you're on scene, did you have occasion to have a conversation with Miss McCabe?

MR. LALLY: Okay. And at some point when you were on scene, did you have occasion to have a conversation with Miss Roberts?

MR. LALLY: Okay. Was there someone else from your department that was speaking with Miss Roberts?

MR. LALLY: Now, following Sergeant Goode's arrival, who if anyone else from your department arrived on scene at some point?

MR. LALLY: And if you know, when was their arrival in relation to sort of when you arrived?

MR. LALLY: And so for the period that you were on scene, you said it was about an hour to an hour and a half — is that correct?

MR. LALLY: The weather conditions that you described sort of when you first arrived — what if any change occurred in the weather conditions from the time that you arrived and the time that you left?

MR. LALLY: Still snowing, still cold — correct?

MR. LALLY: The wind — was that still persistent as well?

MR. LALLY: Now, at some point after Miss Read, the defendant, left the scene, did she come back?

MR. LALLY: And do you know how long a period it was that she was gone between when she left and when she came back?

MR. LALLY: And do you know why she came back?

MR. LALLY: And when she returned to the scene, did you speak with her further at that point?

MR. LALLY: Who if anyone did you observe her to be speaking with?

MR. LALLY: Now, the initial ambulance that showed up took and transported Mr. O'Keefe — is that correct?

MR. LALLY: Now, after that ambulance left and Miss Read came back to the scene, what if any other apparatus from the fire department arrived on scene at that —

MR. LALLY: And who if anyone went in that ambulance for transport?

MR. LALLY: And do you know what hospital she was taken to?

MR. LALLY: One moment.

MR. LALLY: If I may, I request the lights be dimmed.

MR. LALLY: Miss Gilman, if I could have Exhibit Number 8 up on the screen. Thank you. Now, Officer Saraf, do you recognize what's depicted on the screen as Exhibit Number 8?

MR. LALLY: What do you recognize it as?

MR. LALLY: And that's the house that you responded to on that date — is that correct?

MR. LALLY: And what's contained in that photograph — is that a fair and accurate portrayal of what you observed roughly when you arrived on that date?

MR. LALLY: May I approach?

MR. LALLY: Direct your attention — this is just — I'm trying — not — basically this button here, you just — —on that. So from this photograph, Exhibit 8, sir — where Mr. O'Keefe's body was when you first arrived, is that visible in this photograph or no?

MR. LALLY: So further off to the left, is that correct?

MR. LALLY: Before we get to that, just briefly — Miss Gilman, if I could have Exhibit 13, could you please enlarge? Thank you. Now, Officer Saraf, do you recognize what's contained in Exhibit 13?

MR. LALLY: Fair enough. May I approach the witness?

MR. LALLY: Sorry. So what I've placed before you as Exhibit 13 — is that what's up on the screen?

MR. LALLY: And is that a fair and accurate portrayal of what Fairview Road looked like around the time that you were dispatched and arrived on scene?

MR. LALLY: You mentioned it was dark when you arrived, correct?

MR. LALLY: So this is sometime after, when the sun has come up, correct? If I could ask you to flip to the next exhibit, number 14 — if I could have that one. And again, Officer, what's up on the screen — is that what you have before you as Exhibit 14?

MR. LALLY: And you were testifying earlier about footprints in and around where Mr. O'Keefe was, is that correct?

MR. LALLY: And what's depicted on the screen in Exhibit 14 — is that a fair and accurate portrayal of the footprints that you were talking about?

MR. LALLY: May I approach the witness?

MR. LALLY: So now I'm showing you what's been marked as Exhibit 18. Miss Gilman, if you could enlarge that just a little bit more — thank you so much. Now from this photograph, first and foremost, do you recognize what's depicted in Exhibit 18 on the screen here?

MR. LALLY: And this is 34 Fairview Road, correct?

MR. LALLY: And in regard to — you had mentioned some sort of landmarks off to the left side of the property, facing the property from the street, correct?

MR. LALLY: And if you could, using that laser pointer that I placed up there before you, if you could direct the jury's attention to first those landmarks — I'm sorry, Officer, if you could while...

MR. LALLY: And so where in relation to this photograph, if you can see it here, was Mr. O'Keefe's body when you first—

MR. LALLY: Now if I could turn back just a moment — when you indicated that you were coming up to the scene and you could see the three females sort of waving and Mr. O'Keefe on the ground, correct?

MR. LALLY: About how far away were you from them when you first observed them, or first saw them?

MR. LALLY: And when you are driving down Fairview, if you could describe to the... ...jury — where is your direction, sort of where are you directed as far as you're driving a vehicle — are you looking straight in front of you, or are you looking out the window, a combination of both?

MR. LALLY: And that sort of leads to my next question, sir — so what did you see first, did you see the vehicle parked in front of you, or did you see the people off to the side?

MR. LALLY: May I approach?

MR. LALLY: So, Officer Saraf, you had testified earlier in regard to a camera within your cruiser, correct?

MR. LALLY: And subsequent to that day, have you seen the video of your arrival to the scene from the cruiser camera perspective?

MR. LALLY: Okay. And I would seek to introduce and admit as the next exhibits the cruiser camera stream — one from Cruiser 683 — is there an objection? Thank you. I'm sorry for the back and forth, but if I could ask — Miss Gilman, if you could play what's now been marked Exhibit 25, and if you could just pause it right there. So, Officer Saraf, what's up on the screen — is that what you recall as far as the sort of visibility and the... ...roadway conditions when you first left the church parking lot?

MR. LALLY: And this is you sort of leaving from the church parking lot as you're going to 34 Fairview, correct?

MR. LALLY: Now there are a number of different things on this screen — there's an indication as far as the speed that the vehicle is going, correct?

MR. LALLY: Where is that located? If you could, with the laser pointer there—

MR. LALLY: Now along sort of the bottom of that particular video there's an indication as far as mic, brakes, lights — correct?

MR. LALLY: If those are activated, is there any sort of change in sort of the depiction there — does it change color or anything like that that you're aware of?

MR. LALLY: And the 683 on the bottom right corner — is that the cruiser that you were in that day?

MR. LALLY: Now as far as sort of the top middle of this video, there's a date and a time, is that correct?

MR. LALLY: As far as you're aware, that date and time that's up there — that's accurate to when this occurred, correct?

MR. LALLY: So we're looking at this in real time, correct?

MR. LALLY: Okay. Miss Gilman, if you could just let it run from here. Miss Gilman, I'm sorry — you could stop. So, Officer Saraf, this road you're traversing at this point — this is Washington Street, is that...

MR. LALLY: And at some point you're going to then travel through and take a right onto Fairview, is that correct?

MR. LALLY: Okay. If you could, just for the jury's sake, as you approach Fairview and as you're taking that right turn, just direct their attention to the fact that that's when you're turning onto Fairview.

MR. LALLY: Miss Gilman, you can go ahead.

MR. LALLY: Pause. So, Officer — similar to the turn onto Fairview — at some point, if you observe the point at which you believe you illuminated your spotlight on the side of the cruiser, if you could just speak up and draw the jury's attention to that as well.

MR. LALLY: Miss Gilman, if you could continue.

MR. LALLY: Thank you. Sorry — if you could just run it from this point to about the four-minute mark, and then I'd ask you— [unintelligible] Right there. Now, this is your testimony earlier — as far as the vehicle in front of you that you observed first, and then sort of the people? off to your left as far as the three females waving and Mr. O'Keefe on the ground, correct?

MR. LALLY: And if you could, just using that laser pointer, direct the jury's attention to — number one, where the vehicle is that you observe in front of you, and then number two, where you observe the three females and Mr. O'Keefe on the ground.

MR. LALLY: Now, Miss Gilman, if you wouldn't mind just running this straight through until — — about 7 and a half. [unintelligible — possible dash-cam audio bleed] [unintelligible — possible dash-cam audio bleed] I just want to make sure — I have no further questions to this witness, Your Honor.