Commonwealth v. Read — Trial ArchiveJ. Ryan Gallerani — Direct/Cross
63 linesJUDGE CANNONE: Nothing on that. All right, Trooper. You are all set, sir. Thank you. Who is the Commonwealth's next witness?
MR. LALLY: Your Honor, the Commonwealth calls Ryan Gallerani to the stand.
JUDGE CANNONE: Okay.
MR. LALLY: Your Honor, as this witness is approaching, could I just move into evidence clips 19 and 20 that were previously played for the jury?
JUDGE CANNONE: Yes. Thank you.
COURT CLERK: 137.
MR. GALLERANI: I do.
JUDGE CANNONE: Good afternoon.
MR. GALLERANI: Good afternoon.
JUDGE CANNONE: All right, Mr. Lally. Whenever you're ready.
MR. LALLY: Thank you, Your Honor. Good afternoon, sir.
MR. GALLERANI: Good afternoon.
MR. LALLY: Could you please introduce yourself to the jury and spell your last name for the court?
MR. GALLERANI: Ryan Gallerani. G-A-L-L-E-R-A-N-I.
MR. LALLY: And what do you do for work, sir?
MR. GALLERANI: I'm currently employed as a sergeant for the Needham Police Department.
MR. LALLY: And how long in total have you been a member of the Needham Police Department?
MR. GALLERANI: 19 years.
MR. LALLY: And how long have you held the rank of sergeant?
MR. GALLERANI: Two years. It'll be two years in July.
MR. LALLY: Now, prior to holding the rank of sergeant with the Needham Police Department, what did you do before that at the Needham Police?
MR. GALLERANI: I was a detective for 8 years.
MR. LALLY: Now, over the course of your work as a detective with the Needham Police Department, what training have you received in regard to collection of biological samples?
MR. GALLERANI: I've been certified by the Mass State Police since 2015 in collecting DNA.
MR. LALLY: Now, can you explain just briefly to the jury what that process of certification entailed? How did you become certified?
MR. GALLERANI: So — excuse me. Specifically, I was certified in DNA buccal swab collection, which is the process of obtaining cells suitable for DNA comparison by swabbing a person's cheek cells and gums.
MR. LALLY: And that certification that you received, is that up to date at this point?
MR. GALLERANI: It is.
MR. LALLY: Now, at some point on January 16th of 2024, did you have occasion to collect buccal swabs or samples in relation to this case?
MR. GALLERANI: I did.
MR. LALLY: And before I get to that, just briefly, as far as with your work as a Needham Police detective and/or sergeant, you had no involvement with any investigation either by the Canton police or the state police in relation to any incident in the town of Canton. Correct.
MR. GALLERANI: Correct.
MR. LALLY: Now, with respect to that date of January 16th, where did you go?
MR. GALLERANI: I went to Norfolk County DA's office in Canton.
MR. LALLY: And who did you meet with or who did you collect samples from on that occasion?
MR. GALLERANI: I collected samples from Trooper Proctor and Sergeant Bukhenik.
MR. LALLY: And again, briefly, can you explain to the jury the process of collection of samples from Sergeant Bukhenik and Trooper Proctor?
MR. GALLERANI: So, I swab the inside of their mouths with a cotton swab. I let it air dry, put it in the kit, sealed it, and photographed it.
MR. LALLY: And then following your collection, what did you do with those collections once you had that?
MR. GALLERANI: I brought that back to the police department and entered it into the evidence locker.
MR. LALLY: And as far as that collection process that you were describing, did you do that in conformity with the training and the certification that you referenced earlier?
MR. GALLERANI: I did.
MR. LALLY: Now, with reference to those items, at some point were you informed that those items were to be transferred or transported to a Bode Technology lab in Lorton, Virginia?
MR. GALLERANI: Yes.
MR. LALLY: And were there any specific instructions as far as shipping that you received from the lab in reference to those items?
MR. GALLERANI: There were.
MR. LALLY: And did you comply with those instructions as far as how those items were shipped from the Needham Police Department to the Bode Lab in Virginia?
MR. GALLERANI: Yes.
MR. LALLY: I have nothing further. Thank you.
JUDGE CANNONE: Any questions from the defense?
MR. YANNETTI: Very brief, Your Honor. Good morning, sir.
MR. GALLERANI: Good morning.
MR. YANNETTI: Were you ever asked to do any buccal swabs of Chief Berkowitz of the Canton Police Department?
JUDGE CANNONE: I'll allow that.
MR. GALLERANI: No.
MR. YANNETTI: Were you ever asked to do any buccal swabs of Detective Kevin Albert of the Canton Police Department?
MR. GALLERANI: No.
MR. YANNETTI: Were you ever asked to do any buccal swabs of Lieutenant Brian Tully of the Massachusetts State Police?
MR. GALLERANI: No.
MR. YANNETTI: Thank you. I have nothing further.
JUDGE CANNONE: Anything, Mr. Lally?
MR. LALLY: No.
JUDGE CANNONE: All right. Thank you very much, Sergeant. You're all set. Thank you.