Commonwealth v. Read — Trial ArchiveCharles Rae — Direct (Part 2)
118 linesP R O C E E D I N G S May 8, 2024
(Court in session at 9:07 a.m.)
(Defendant present. Jury present.)
COURT CLERK: Your Honor, 22-117, the Commonwealth versus Karen Read. Would kindly counsel identify themselves, please?
MR. LALLY: Adam Lally, for the Commonwealth. Good morning, Your Honor.
JUDGE CANNONE: Good morning, Mr. Lally.
MS. MCLAUGHLIN: Good morning, Your Honor. Laura McLaughlin, for the Commonwealth.
JUDGE CANNONE: Good morning, Ms. McLaughlin.
MR. JACKSON: Good morning, Your Honor. Alan Jackson, for Ms. Read.
JUDGE CANNONE: Good morning, Mr. Jackson.
MS. LITTLE: Good morning, Your Honor. Elizabeth Little, also for Ms. Read.
JUDGE CANNONE: Good morning, Ms. Little.
MR. YANNETTI: Good morning, Your Honor. David Yannetti, for Karen Read.
JUDGE CANNONE: Good morning, Mr. Yannetti. Good morning, Ms. Read. Good morning, jurors. This is better. This is a better start. I appreciate everybody being ready to start promptly today. I do have those three questions to ask you. Was everyone able to follow my instructions and refrain from discussing this case with anyone since we left yesterday?
JUDGE CANNONE: Everyone said “yes” or nodded affirmatively. Were you also able to follow the instruction to refrain from doing any independent research or investigation into this case?
JUDGE CANNONE: Everyone said “yes” or nodded affirmatively. Did anyone happen to see, hear or read anything about this case since we left yesterday?
JUDGE CANNONE: Everyone said “no” or shook their heads. Okay. Thank you very much. Would you bring Lieutenant Rae in, please?
(Whereupon, the witness was sworn.)
JUDGE CANNONE: Good morning.
JUDGE CANNONE: Whenever you’re ready, Mr. Lally.
MR. LALLY: Thank you, Your Honor.
Whereupon, CHARLES RAE, Resuming having been previously sworn, continued to be examined and testified as follows: CONTINUED DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: Good morning, sir.
MR. LALLY: Picking up where we left off yesterday afternoon, Lieutenant --
MR. LALLY: Ms. Gilman, if I could have Exhibit 41 back up on the screen?
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: And, Lieutenant, so we’re about two hours, 10 minutes and 58 seconds into this particular cruiser video. With respect to this video, if you could just remind the jury where we are and what we’re looking at here?
MR. LALLY: And, Ms. Gilman, if you could play this for me?
(Whereupon, the video was played.)
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: Now, Lieutenant Rae, while this is up on the screen, if I could ask you to -- you’ve viewed this video since this date of January 29th, 2022; correct?
MR. LALLY: And, using the laser pointer in front of you, if you could direct the jury’s attention to what kind of thing you noted in regard to the rear area of the vehicle in front of your cruiser.
MR. RAE: This vehicle right here is Ms. Read’s vehicle. I believe that vehicle there is Mr. O’Keefe’s vehicle. And I didn’t -- although I didn’t know it at the time but I have since --
MR. YANNETTI: Objection. Move to strike.
JUDGE CANNONE: So let him finish his -- You didn’t know at the time but you have since what?
JUDGE CANNONE: Okay. The objection is sustained.
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: Now, during the course of --
JUDGE CANNONE: No. He’s going to ask the question differently.
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: During the course of your well-being check, where is it around the residence that you went?
MR. RAE: We initially went up to one of the front doors. I believe it was the one on the right. And we rang the doorbell, knocked on the door, and was seeing if we could raise anybody, get any response.
MR. LALLY: And, during the time that you were there, were you able to raise anybody and get any response?
MR. LALLY: And at some point subsequent to this, what, if anything, did you learn as to the whereabouts of the children at the time that you were at the residence at 8:23, approximately 8:00?
MR. RAE: After we left and we weren’t able to raise anybody, shortly thereafter we -- subsequently did find out that the children were staying with friends or family at this time.
MR. LALLY: And, Lieutenant, if you know, approximately how long were you at the residence doing this well- being check?
MR. LALLY: Ms. Gilman, if I could ask you to just bring the video forward to about 2 hours, 16 minutes and 30 seconds.
(Whereupon, the video was played.)
MR. LALLY: You can stop it there, Ms. Gilman. Thank you very much.
(Whereupon, the video was paused.)
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: Now, with reference to that driveway area that was in front of your vehicle when you parked there, what, if anything, beyond sort of snow, ice, or things like that did you note within the driveway itself?
MR. LALLY: Anything on the ground that you noted that didn’t -- anything on the ground beyond snow did you note?
MR. LALLY: Your Honor, may I have just one moment?
JUDGE CANNONE: Sure.
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: Now, sir, with reference to -- with reference to the residence at One Meadows Ave., are you familiar with there being a security system or a Ring video system at that residence?
MR. LALLY: And subsequently to this date have you seen that Ring video?
MR. LALLY: Ms. Gilman, if I could have Exhibit 6 and if I could have Video 159?
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: Now, Lieutenant Rae, what’s up on the screen, do you recognize that?
MR. LALLY: And what do you recognize that to be?
MR. RAE: I recognize that to be the driveway of One Meadows Ave., and myself and Sergeant Meehan exiting our cruiser while in the driveway.
MR. LALLY: And, Ms. Gilman, if you could just play it through from there?
(Whereupon, the video was played.)
MR. LALLY: Thank you. And, Ms. Gilman, if I could have the next video, 160, please, and pause for just a moment.
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: Now, again, what’s up on the screen, Lieutenant, do you recognize that?
MR. LALLY: And what do you recognize it to be?
MR. LALLY: And, Ms. Gilman, if you could play it through, please?
(Whereupon, the video was played.)
MR. LALLY: Ms. Gilman, can I have Exhibit 5, please? And from that could I have Video No. 18? And if you could just pause it there.
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: Lieutenant, do you recognize what’s depicted up on the screen now?
MR. LALLY: And what do you recognize that to be?
MR. LALLY: And, Ms. Gilman, if you could run that video.
(Whereupon, the video was played.)
MR. LALLY: Thank you. And, Ms. Gilman, if I could have the next video, 19?
(Whereupon, the video was played.)
MR. LALLY: Pause it there, Ms. Gilman.
(Whereupon, the video was paused.)
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: Again, in addition to going to the front door and sort of in the driveway area, where, if anywhere, are you going in this video now?
MR. RAE: It looks I’m heading towards the, from this vantage point, to the right, which, if you’re looking at the house from the front, would be the left, to see if there’s anything in plain view through the windows, if I could see anybody, any persons, any activity.
MR. LALLY: Ms. Gilman, if you could press play?
(Whereupon, the video was played.)
MR. LALLY: Thank you, Ms. Gilman. You can take that down, Mr. Officer. If we could have the lights back on? Thank you very much.
BY MR. LALLY:
MR. LALLY: And, Lieutenant Rae, just lastly, once you left the residence at One Meadows Ave., where did you go from there?
MR. LALLY: Just one moment, Your Honor?
JUDGE CANNONE: Yes.
MR. LALLY: I have no further questions for this witness, Your Honor.
JUDGE CANNONE: Okay. Mr. Yannetti?
MR. YANNETTI: The defense has no questions.
JUDGE CANNONE: You are all set, sir. Thank you.
(Whereupon, the witness is excused.)
JUDGE CANNONE: Your next witness, Mr. Lally?
MR. LALLY: Yes, Your Honor. The Commonwealth would call Mr. Michael Camerano to the stand.
MR. LALLY: Your Honor, if I may, while the witness is coming in, may we approach just on a procedural thing?
JUDGE CANNONE: Sure.