Day 17 - May 24, 2024

Brian Higgins described traveling from New York to Canton on January 28, 2022, meeting Brian Albert at the Hillside and later joining a group at the Waterfall. He testified that he drove to 34 Fairview Road, stayed briefly in the kitchen and living-room areas, did not see John O'Keefe or Karen Read there, and then returned to the Canton Police Department before going home. Higgins also described receiving word the next morning that O'Keefe had been found on the lawn. The Commonwealth introduced Higgins's text-message exchanges with O'Keefe and Read; after a recess to prepare a clearer copy, the judge instructed jurors that alleged statements by Read were to be considered only for her state of mind concerning her relationship with O'Keefe and potential motive. Higgins testified about his communications and denied any sexual relationship or further intimate contact with Read.

Defense counsel questioned Brian Higgins about his relationships with members of the Albert family and Chief Berkowitz, his movements on January 28-29, 2022, and his communications with Karen Read. Higgins acknowledged records reflecting calls with Brian Albert and access to the Canton Police Department, but denied receiving or sharing investigative information and disputed the defense's characterization of several calls and contacts. He testified that he extracted two selected text threads from his phone with guidance from Matt Kelch, provided those strings to law enforcement, and later threw the phone away; the judge sustained or limited a number of related questions.