Day 9 - May 5, 2025

Knowles, Nagel, Maxon, Levinson, Gallagher, McLaughlin

18Proceedings

9Pages

6Witnesses

3,592Lines

Day 9 of 36

Appearing:

Six witnesses testify on Day 9, led by paramedic Katie McLaughlin's account that Karen Read repeatedly said, 'I hit him.' Defense questioning probes documentation and handling of BAC evidence and the Fairview Road evidence collection.

Full day summary

Day 9 opens with the completion of toxicologist Hannah Knowles's cross-examination, in which Yannetti explores the wide BAC range and Knowles says hypothetical later drinking would require different or revised calculations. Eyewitnesses Ryan Nagel and Heather Maxon — who rode together to 34 Fairview Road around 12:30 a.m. — give differing, qualified accounts of the SUV: Nagel briefly saw an unidentified woman driver but could not see past her, while Maxon described a male and female; neither account provides continuous observation. House-party guest Sarah Levinson accounts for the guests inside 34 Fairview and explains why she did not observe the front lawn at departure, while defense cross-examination notes she spoke with another witness before being interviewed and was not contacted by police for nine months. The day's most contested testimony comes from paramedic Katie McLaughlin, who testifies that Read repeatedly said 'I hit him' during medical questioning; Jackson questioned the lack of a written note, offered a differing interpretation of scene video, and pressed McLaughlin about her Albert connection, which she described as occasional social contact rather than a close friendship. The day closes with retired Canton Lt. Paul Gallagher, whose collection using a leaf blower, Red Solo cups, and a Stop & Shop bag is challenged by the defense; he says he wrote no personal report, described other documentation and computerized logging, and testified that he had not seen an evidence log.

Key Moments

Yannetti elicits Knowles's testimony that, if later drinking were established, she would need different calculations or a revised report; she also says components of her analysis may or may not accommodate unknown drinking history.
Katie McLaughlin testifies that, during medical questioning at the scene, Read repeatedly said 'I hit him'; the meaning and weight of the reported words remain for the factfinder.
Jackson argues scene video does not show Read as overly frantic or hysterical; McLaughlin says the video is hard to assess and maintains Read was extremely upset. He also questions the reported statement's documentation, including McLaughlin's decision not to write it down.
Nagel briefly saw an unidentified woman driver and could not see past her, while Maxon described a male and female; both said they did not see anyone exit during their stop, but their accounts were not continuous observations.
Lt. Paul Gallagher says he wrote no personal report about his scene work, while stating that Lank documented it; he also describes computerized logging and personal removal of samples from refrigeration, but says he had not seen an evidence log at that time.

Notable Quotes

Katie McLaughlin

“I asked if there had been any significant trauma that happened that preceded this. And she answered with a series of statements that she repeated. 'I hit him. I hit him.' There was a woman next to us who told her to calm down. 'Stop talking. Calm down. You're hysterical.' So she repeated, 'I hit him.' And a police officer asked her, said, 'You what?' And she repeated it again. 'I hit him.'”

McLaughlin testified that Read repeated the words during medical questioning; the account places the exchange outside police questioning, while the meaning and weight of the words remain for the factfinder.

Alan Jackson

“It was important enough, as you say, to go back and report the statement, but not important enough to write it down with that pen very conveniently in your right hand.”

Jackson used McLaughlin's glove notes to question why she did not record the reported statement; his later assertion that no officer recorded it drew an objection without a witness answer resolving that assertion.

Paul Gallagher

“I have never seen an evidence log.”

Gallagher says he had never seen an evidence log, adding 'at least at this time,' while also describing computerized logging and his personal removal of the samples from refrigeration. Jackson used the collection materials and swab alternatives to challenge the handling; Gallagher cited storm urgency, scene security, and supply access.