(PatriotWise.com) — The first week of testimony in the murder trial of Karen Read closed last week with testimony from first responders and a jury visit to the scene.
Canton Fire Lt. Anthony Flematti and firefighter Katie McLaughlin both testified that they heard the defendant repeatedly say, “I hit him” when they arrived at the Canton address where her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, was found.
However, during cross-examination, defense attorney Alan Jackson played a clip from the body cam footage showing Flematti attempting to revive O’Keefe using chest compressions.
When Jackson asked Flematti how he could have heard Read confess to hitting her boyfriend when he was attending to O’Keefe, the Fire Lt. admitted that he was not speaking to Read on the footage shown.
During cross-examination of McLaughlin on Friday, the defense zeroed in on her relationship with the daughter of Brian Albert, the homeowner of the property where O’Keefe was found.
McLaughlin admitted that she went to high school with Albert’s daughter Caitlin but described their relationship as acquaintances with mutual friends rather than close friends.
Following McLaughlin’s cross-examination, jurors were taken by bus to Albert’s Canton home to see for themselves where O’Keefe’s body was found. The jurors also inspected Read’s Lexus SUV.
Citing security concerns, the judge did not permit Read to accompany the jury on the trip.
On leaving the courthouse Friday morning, Read spoke briefly with reporters, saying the trip would give the jury “a very good perspective.”
Testimony resumed Friday afternoon with Canton fire paramedics Gregory Woodbury and Daniel Whitley taking the stand.
Woodbury said Read repeatedly asked if O’Keefe was dead and suggested that she appeared to be “very concerned about that.” He described Read’s emotional state as “very up and down.”
Whitley testified that Read had referred to O’Keefe as her husband. He said he recalled Read saying she didn’t want to live if her husband died.
Read, 45, is accused of striking O’Keefe with her vehicle during a snowstorm in 2022. She faces charges of second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter while under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene.
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