Karen Read murder trial jury hears testimony from 4 first responders on night of boyfriend's death
DEDHAM – Testimony in Karen Read's high-profile murder trial in Dedham, Massachusetts has ended for the day.
Four witnesses testified Thursday for the prosecution before court was adjourned just before 1 p.m.
Read is charged with second-degree murder in the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe. He was found dead outside a Canton home during a snowstorm in 2022. Prosecutors say Read hit him with her SUV and left him to die.
Jurors will return to Norfolk Superior Court Friday morning to hear more testimony from Canton firefighter-paramedic Katie McLaughlin, before they visit the home where O'Keefe's body was found.
What first responders heard when John O'Keefe was found
McLaughlin was the latest first responder to testify about what they heard Read saying the morning O'Keefe's body was found.
According to McLaughlin, Read was distraught and moving around the scene.
McLaughlin said she heard Read exclaim "I hit him" and repeat it.
Paramedic heard "He's dead, he's f------ dead"
Earlier in the day, Canton firefighter and paramedic Matthew Kelly said a woman with blood around her mouth was acting "erratic" when he arrived where O'Keefe's body was found. Previous witnesses have described Read as being covered in blood after attempting CPR on O'Keefe.
Kelly testified that he heard the woman say "He's dead, he's f------ dead."
Canton firefighter Frank Walsh was next on stand, saying "All I recall her saying was 'Is he alive?'"
Karen Read said "I hit him, I hit him," firefighter testifies
Lt. Anthony Flematti, a Canton firefighter and EMT, began his testimony on Tuesday before court ended for the day. He returned to the stand to start the proceedings on Thursday.
Flematti said that after he arrived at the Canton home where O'Keefe's body was found, Read repeatedly said "I hit him, I hit him."
He testified that when he asked Read follow-up questions, "she just repeated the phrase over and over again."
Flematti testified that he remembers telling doctors and nurses at Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton that there was a question about if O'Keefe had been hit by a vehicle.
During cross-examination, defense attorney Alan Jackson questioned Flematti why he had never told anyone that detail before.
"Have you ever said that in any context either to the police, or in a grand jury, before today?" Jackson asked, to which Flematti replied that he did not recall.
Karen Read's defense attorney responds
Leaving court following Thursday's testimony, Jackson told reporters that Read did not say anything about hitting O'Keefe. He claims video proves that.
"She didn't say I did it," Jackson said.
Reporters followed up by asking Jackson what she did say.
"The video speaks for itself. All of this is on tape. Everything that's on tape is what she said," Jackson said.
Jurors to visit Canton home where O'Keefe was found
On Friday, jurors are set to go on a trip to see the Canton home where O'Keefe was discovered. Jackson said it's important for jurors to see, "the entire scene."
"We want them to hear the truth," Jackson said.
Defense attorney David Yannetti said he's glad the judge is allowing the visit. "They'll need to get out there themselves and eyeball the property, and see how close everything is to everything else, and I think it's going to really assist them and I'm glad that the judge allowed the view," Yannetti said.
What has happened in the Karen Read case so far?
Attorneys gave opening statements on Monday and the first witness was called. On Tuesday, testimony continued with first responders taking the stand.
Canton firefighter and paramedic Timothy Nuttall testified that while treating O'Keefe, he also heard a woman saying "I hit him, I hit him." Defense attorneys for Read argued that Nuttall has changed his testimony since he spoke to Massachusetts State Police.
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court rules on "buffer zone"
Supporters for Read have been vocal outside the courthouse throughout the months of hearings and the beginning of the trial, many holding signs and wearing shirts that say "Free Karen Read."
Before the trial got underway, Judge Beverly Cannone ruled there would be a 200-foot "buffer zone" keeping supporters pushed back from the Dedham courthouse. She said the decision is an effort to maintain an unbiased jury.
Read supporters argued the buffer zone was unconstitutional, and appealed the decision to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. On Thursday, the court issued its decision affirming Cannone's buffer zone.
"Ultimately, the trial judge struck a balance between the right to protest or demonstrate and the defendant's right to a fair trial," the SJC ruled.
Who is Karen Read?
Read is facing charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of personal injury and death.
Read has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Her attorneys argue that she is being framed as part of a coverup by several people, including law enforcement.