Commonwealth v. Read — Trial Archive
Trial 2 Trial Day
◀ Day 11 Trial 2 Day 13 ▶

Day 12 - May 8, 2025

Bukhenik Testifies on Evidence Handling, Video, and Investigation Supervision

Judge Beverly J. Cannone
4Proceedings
2Pages
1Witnesses
2,597Lines
9 sidebars
Day 12 of 36
Appearing:
Hank BrennanAlan JacksonYuri Bukhenik

Sgt. Yuriy Bukhenik testified about evidence handling, searches, video, and his supervision of the investigation.

Full day summary

Sgt. Yuriy Bukhenik continued his testimony about the initial response, searches at 34 Fairview Road, the seizure and handling of physical evidence, and damage he observed to Karen Read's Lexus. Before testimony about alleged statements by Read, the judge instructed jurors to consider them only if they found the statements were made voluntarily, freely, and rationally. Bukhenik also testified that some Ring-video time periods were absent from the production and acknowledged two sustained internal findings from a text-chain investigation involving Michael Proctor. On cross-examination, he described Proctor's role as case officer, said he did not enter or secure 34 Fairview Road on January 29, and addressed access to the area where clothing evidence was left to dry and the absence of a real-time handling log.

Notable Moments

Yuriy Bukhenik Direct Examination

The court instructed jurors that they could consider alleged statements by Read only if they later found beyond a reasonable doubt that she made them voluntarily, freely, and rationally.

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Yuri Bukhenik — Direct Examination Continued

Bukhenik testified that he received two sustained findings after an internal investigation involving a text chain, one concerning supervision and the other the accuracy of a quarterly performance review; he said he lost five vacation days.

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Yuri Bukhenik — Direct Examination Continued

Bukhenik testified that the Ring production contained no video for the approximately 12:36:39 a.m. January 29 time frame.

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Yuri Bukhenik - Cross-Examination

Bukhenik testified that he did not enter or secure 34 Fairview Road, search the house, photograph its interior, call crime-scene services, or create a scene log on January 29.

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Yuri Bukhenik - Cross-Examination

Bukhenik testified that authorized personnel could access the area where clothing was drying, that he did not know who later bagged it, and that he had not seen a real-time log of handling during that period.

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Notable Quotes
Yuri Bukhenik
“Yes, they were two sustained findings as a result of that investigation.”
Bukhenik acknowledged sustained internal findings arising from the investigation of the text chain.
Yuri Bukhenik
“Anyone that had access to the office with the proper key card authorization would have access to that area.”
Bukhenik described who could access the area where clothing had been left to dry.
Video thumbnail for Day 12 — Bukhenik (Direct/Cross) 7h 16m
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1. Yuri Bukhenik — Direct

Sgt. Yuriy Bukhenik continued direct examination on the early investigation, evidence handling, searches, video, and damage to the Lexus taillight.

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Direct
Yuri Bukhenik Hank Brennan
662 lines

On Day 12, Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Yuriy Bukhenik described his supervisory role in the initial response after a man was reported in a Canton snowbank. He testified about evidence shown at the Canton Police Department, observations at Good Samaritan Hospital, a missing sneaker, and his observation of damage to the Lexus at the Dighton residence. Bukhenik also described the seizure, towing, storage, and planned processing of the Lexus, as well as the handling and drying of O'Keefe's clothing. Before testimony about alleged statements by Read, the judge instructed jurors that they could use such statements only if they later found they were made voluntarily, freely, and rationally. The Commonwealth marked an RMV certificate and introduced O'Keefe's pants and a sneaker.

3 sidebars inside this proceeding
  1. Unrecorded sidebar The reporter transcript records only the commencement and end of the sidebar.
  2. Interview report and invocation Counsel discussed an interview report, whether it reflected an invocation, and a Rule 14 issue; the judge said counsel would not get into the interview.
  3. Stricken answer and witness wording Counsel discussed striking part of an answer, directing the witness to describe personal actions more clearly, and later showing sustained findings and text messages.
sidebar
Sneaker evidence bag labels
37 lines

Counsel and the court examined conflicting sneaker-bag labels and discussed handling the remaining clothing before resolving the sneaker issue during a break.

Procedural
Morning Recess and Counsel Consultation
14 lines

The court recessed for a morning break and authorized the prosecutor to speak with Trooper Bukhenik during the break while accompanied by a representative of the defense team. Defense counsel did not object.

Direct
Yuri Bukhenik Hank Brennan
1067 lines

Sgt. Yuriy Bukhenik described planned searches at 34 Fairview Road that recovered clothing, plastic and glass fragments, a straw, and a baseball hat, along with the photographing and bagging of items. He identified surveillance and other video reviewed during the investigation, testified that certain Ring-video time periods were absent from the production, and described the right rear taillight of the Lexus as missing a large red lens portion in video and photographs. Bukhenik also acknowledged two sustained internal findings arising from a text-chain investigation involving Michael Proctor and said he lost five vacation days. During a video presentation about alcohol consumption, the court sustained defense objections and struck portions of his commentary.

3 sidebars inside this proceeding
  1. Evidence storage and bag remarking Counsel discussed storing an item in plasticine and replacing or remarking a shoe evidence bag to clarify the record while preserving the old bag.
  2. Presentation timing and child witness The court discussed the remaining presentation time, a required 4:00 break, a child witness anticipated for the next day, and releasing waiting witnesses.
  3. Juror break and witness excusal The judge called a juror break until two o'clock and confirmed agreement that the Commonwealth could excuse witnesses.

2. Yuri Bukhenik — Cross (Part 1)

Alan Jackson cross-examined Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik about supervision of the investigation, the response at 34 Fairview Road, and the handling of clothing evidence.

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Cross
Yuri Bukhenik Alan Jackson
817 lines

Defense counsel Alan Jackson cross-examined Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik about Michael Proctor's role as case officer and Bukhenik's supervisory responsibility. Bukhenik maintained that Proctor handled the investigation with integrity, while acknowledging that a supervisor cannot know everything a subordinate does. The questioning then addressed the January 29 response to 34 Fairview Road, where Bukhenik said he did not enter or secure the house, search it, photograph its interior, call crime-scene services, or create a scene log. Bukhenik also described clothing evidence left to dry in an accessible office area, said he did not know who later bagged it, and said he had not seen a real-time handling log. The defense marked and published Exhibit 110, a hospital-room photograph showing clothing on the floor.

2 sidebars inside this proceeding
  1. Witness narrative answers on cross Counsel raised concerns about narrative answers during cross-examination, and the judge said she would direct the witness to focus on and answer the questions.
  2. Photograph viewing and family notice Counsel discussed showing a photograph to the jurors while giving the family advance notice and accounting for the courtroom cameras.
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