The third day of witness testimony in Karen Read’s retrial got here to an abrupt and sudden finish shortly earlier than midday on Thursday after Decide Beverly Cannone mentioned there was “confusion” over particular prosecutor Hank Brennan’s witnesses.
Learn is accused of placing her Boston police officer boyfriend, John O’Keefe, along with her SUV in January 2022 and leaving him to die alone within the snow exterior of a home celebration in Canton. She has been charged with second-degree homicide, manslaughter whereas working a automobile below the affect, and leaving the scene.
Earlier than Cannone despatched the jurors residence for the day, Brennan performed interview clips that confirmed Learn discussing her alcohol consumption on the night time of Jan. 28, 2022, within the hours earlier than the loss of life of O’Keefe. She was additionally proven speaking about ingesting and driving.
“I had like a standard quantity, like a vodka tonic each 40 minutes,” Learn mentioned in one of many clips. In a separate clip, Learn described the drinks at C.F. McCarthy’s as “weak.”
“It was only a actually weak pour,” she advised one interviewer.
Learn mentioned she “felt like I used to be buzzed” when she and O’Keefe left C.F. McCarthy’s for the Waterfall.
She additionally admitted to driving after ingesting, saying in a clip performed by Brennan, “I used to be fuzzier than I might have been if I had no alcohol.”
Learn additionally claimed, “I do know I wasn’t driving recklessly.”
Upon completion of the clips, Learn and her authorized crew requested Cannone for permission to strategy her bench, and the courtroom digital camera panned out of view.
When Learn and her crew sat again down, Cannone advised the court docket, “Jurors, there was some confusion with counsel relating to witnesses. These have been the witnesses for immediately, so we’re completed for immediately.”
Cannone added, “Counsel assures me that gained’t occur once more. Extra importantly, we’re on observe, we’re on schedule, and the remainder of the day gained’t intrude with our schedule.”
Cannone additionally introduced that jurors will probably be happening a “view” on Friday, which suggests they’ll be bused to see websites related to the homicide case.
Massachusetts State Police Trooper Nicholas Guarino additionally returned to the stand Thursday. As a part of the homicide investigation, he was tasked with inspecting Learn and O’Keefe’s cellphone information, in addition to telephones belonging to different witnesses within the case.
Guarino scrutinized name logs between Learn and O’Keefe, and he learn dozens of textual content messages the couple exchanged within the hours earlier than O’Keefe’s loss of life.
The texts learn aloud by Guarino referenced smoothing issues over from one thing that occurred that morning and planning for the remainder of the night time. Learn and O’Keefe texted forwards and backwards about whether or not or to not meet up, with Learn additionally indicating that she was having issues along with her scorching water that required assist from a plumber.
In a single textual content change, O’Keefe mentioned he was getting off his cellphone as a result of Learn nonetheless hadn’t determined if she was going to satisfy him at C.F. McCarthy’s in Canton.
Learn, referencing their mutual pals Curt Roberts and Michael Camerano, responded, “I believe the 4 of us collectively is poisonous to this relationship. Wish to restrict it…You mentioned so your self for most likely a 12 months now.”
Earlier than Guarino took the stand, Brennan referred to as Camerano to the stand, who testified that he didn’t discover any friction between Learn and O’Keefe at C.F. McCarthy’s.
On Wednesday, John’s mother, Peggy O’Keefe, was called to the stand, marking the primary time that she had spoken publicly since her son’s loss of life.
O’Keefe didn’t testify in Learn’s first trial and has by no means given any interviews. She was one of four people who took the stand for the prosecution on Day 2 of testimony.
O’Keefe described how Learn spoke to her over the cellphone at Good Samaritan Hospital, the place her son was pronounced deceased.
“As I’m strolling down, I hear Karen Learn yell, ‘Peg, is he lifeless? Is he lifeless, Peg?’ O’Keefe testified. ”I requested her what occurred, and she or he mentioned ‘I. We went to a celebration. I left him there.’ I mentioned, ‘You simply left him there.’ She mentioned, ‘Sure’”
Highlights from Day 2 of witness testimony
When leaving court docket earlier this week, Read expressed confidence in her team of lawyers to reporters.
“I really feel nice, immediately went effectively. We prepped exhausting, and I’m simply happy with my crew. I can’t be prouder, and we’ve got the reality, so we forge forward,” Learn mentioned.
Prosecutors allege Learn deliberately backed into O’Keefe after she dropped him off at a home celebration and returned hours later to seek out him lifeless. The protection has claimed that she was a sufferer of an enormous police conspiracy and that O’Keefe was fatally crushed by one other legislation enforcement officer on the celebration.
A mistrial was declared last year after jurors mentioned they have been at an deadlock and deliberating additional can be futile.
The largest distinction within the present trial is the lead prosecutor, Brennan. Introduced in as a particular prosecutor after the mistrial, the previous protection lawyer has represented a lot of distinguished purchasers, together with infamous Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger.
Learn has pleaded not responsible to fees of second-degree homicide, manslaughter whereas working below the affect, and leaving the scene of a crash leading to loss of life.
RELATED:
Highlights from Day 1 of witness testimony
Get caught of with the latest in the Karen Read case
Obtain the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking information alerts.
Observe Boston 25 Information on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Source link