Live video, updates: Evidence presented, 911 call played as testimony continues in Karen Read trial (2024)

DEDHAM, Mass. — Witness testimony in the Karen Read murder trial resumed Monday morning after jurors traveled on Friday to the scene where the body of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe was found.

• WATCH LIVE: Streaming coverage of Monday’s witness testimony
• Also streaming on Facebook, X, and YouTube
• Live court updates from Boston 25′s Ted Daniel

Monday’s testimony started with Canton Police Lt. Paul Gallagher on the stand. Upon arriving at the scene of O’Keefe’s death, Gallagher said he spotted “light pink spots in the snow” and that investigators “decided to process the scene with a leaf blower.”

Gallagher was also asked by Read’s attorney Alan Jackson if he looked around the house where O’Keefe was found for signs of a struggle or fight. He said: “No.”

Jackson went on to ask Gallagher about a photo of a Stop & Shop bag containing red Solo cups with blood in them that was placed near Read’s Lexus SUV. Jackson suggested an opportunity for evidence tampering.

When Canton Police Sgt. Sean Goode was called to the stand after Gallagher, Jennifer McCabe’s 911 call was played in court.

“There’s a man passed out in the snow,” the caller stated. “There’s a guy unresponsive in the snow...I think he’s dead, you guys got to get here.”

Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally alleged that a distraught Read was the one who could be heard in the background of the call.

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Jurors went to 34 Fairview Road in Canton to see the location where O’Keefe was discovered on his back near a flagpole in the front yard about 10 feet from the street, without a pulse, and covered in snow on Jan. 29, 2022.

Karen Read’s Lexus LX SUV was also brought to the scene for the jury The entire right rear tail light housing had been removed.

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Karen Read's Lexus SUV

Once back in court, Canton Fire LT. Greg Woodbury testified he was called back to the scene to evaluate Read. He said a fellow firefighter told him Read repeatedly said “I hit him” before she threatened self-harm.

“She appeared very distraught, very upset. You know initially just trying to explain the situation to her about going to the hospital with the section 12, which is someone having a psychological issue,” Woodbury said.

Also in court on Friday, a picture of O’Keefe’s right arm was shown with injuries on it. The defense said those marks are dog bites.

The state is using Read’s cracked right taillight as evidence she ran down O’Keefe in reverse with her SUV after a night of drinking.

Prosecutors say Read dropped O’Keefe off at a house party 34 Fairview Road just after midnight. As Read made a three-point turn, she allegedly struck O’Keefe and drove away, leaving him to die as a blizzard raged.

Read’s lawyers plan to argue during the trial that someone other than Read was responsible for O’Keefe’s death but have only floated a theory that he was beaten inside 34 Fairview Road and left for dead outside. The defense has criticized investigators for failing to search the house where the party was held to see if a fight had occurred and argued his injuries were consistent with being beaten up.

Read, 44, of Mansfield, faces several charges including second-degree murder in O’Keefe’s death.

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Fatal hit-and-run: Karen Read, 41, of Mansfield, Mass., is charged with manslaughter in the Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, death of Boston police Officer John O’Keefe. O'Keefe, 46, was off duty at the time of his death. (Boston 25 News, Boston Police Department)

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