The trial in Massachusetts entered its ninth day on Friday, as a woman faced charges for allegedly hitting her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV and leaving him for dead in a snowbank outside a home.
John O’Keefe passed away on January 29, 2022, in the Boston suburb of Canton.
The case has gained national notoriety as the defense claims that state and local law enforcement officials falsely implicated girlfriend Karen Read and let the actual perpetrator escape justice.
Let’s examine the facts and legal arguments:
WHAT ARE THE CHARGES?
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A 44-year-old woman named Karen Read from Mansfield, Massachusetts, is facing charges of second-degree murder, along with other charges, in connection with the death of John O’Keefe, a 46-year-old man. John O’Keefe, a retired Boston police officer, was discovered unresponsive outside his home. Karen Read is a 16-year police veteran.
After a night of drinking at multiple bars, prosecutors claim that Read dropped off O’Keefe at a house party shortly after midnight. While making a three-point turn, they allege that she accidentally hit O’Keefe and then drove away. Several hours later, she came back to discover him lying in a snowbank.
Prosecutors are aiming to demonstrate that Read acted deliberately. To support this claim, Norfolk Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally stated that evidence will indicate that the couple’s relationship had started to deteriorate in the month leading up to O’Keefe’s death, and that they engaged in arguments.
According to Read’s lawyers, they have made allegations of a cover-up involving various law enforcement agencies. Their claim asserts that O’Keefe was physically assaulted inside the house, bitten by a dog, and subsequently abandoned outside.
DID FAMILY CONNECTIONS UNDERMINE THE INVESTIGATION?
On Friday, the prosecution summoned the previous homeowners to provide testimony regarding the events that preceded the discovery of O’Keefe.
Brian and Nicole Albert, a married couple who used to reside in the Canton home until last year, recalled their experience of gathering with relatives at a local bar on the night of January 28, 2022. They vividly remember seeing O’Keefe enter the bar with Read and take a seat close to Nicole Albert’s sister and her husband.
According to witnesses, it appeared that everyone was enjoying themselves at the event. Although Read was not directly approached, Nicole Albert noted that she observed no indications of alcohol influencing his behavior. Brian Albert, a former Boston police officer, mentioned that he was familiar with O’Keefe and that their interaction was friendly.
Both Brian and Nicole Albert mentioned that their son was on the verge of celebrating his birthday. With the bar closing, loved ones and friends gathered at their house to surprise him. The snowfall created a beautiful scene outside. The Alberts emphasized that O’Keefe and Read did not join them at their house. While enjoying some drinks, the group spent the evening together, and according to the Alberts’ testimony, everyone left by 2 a.m. on January 29 and they went to bed.
Nicole Albert vividly remembers the chaotic morning of January 29th when her sister, Jennifer McCabe, abruptly entered the bedroom between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. In a state of hysteria, Jennifer exclaimed, “He’s out in the snow! We found him out in the snow! We don’t know if he’s okay.” This alarming revelation left Nicole filled with worry and uncertainty.
Albert was taken aback by the response and asked, “What are you talking about?” At that moment, her first instinct was to worry that something had happened to a family member.
The Alberts expressed that they and their family members were in a state of shock.
“It was a morning filled with chaos,” recalled Brian Albert.
Brian Albert and his partner had a conversation with Lt. Michael Lank at their residence. According to Brian, he was acquainted with Lank, but their relationship was not on a social level.
DID PHONE CALLS PLAY A ROLE?
During the cross-examination on Friday, the defense questioned Julie Albert, a family member, about her 67 phone conversations with Trooper Michael Proctor’s sister between February and September of 2022. These conversations included one on the day of Read’s arrest and three during her arraignment.
Julie Albert is married to Christopher, Brian Albert’s younger brother. She also verified that she possesses Proctor’s personal cellphone number and they briefly spoke on the phone after her interview with him on February 10th. She mentioned that she had his number from years ago.
Julie Albert also confirmed that she provided McCabe with Lank’s personal cellphone number.
During the week, the defense honed in on Lank’s connection with Christopher Albert, a fellow high school classmate.
The defense team of Read has placed significant emphasis on the connections between the police and the Albert family. They are attempting to argue that these relationships have influenced the investigation and prevented state and local law enforcement officials from considering the possibility that someone other than the Albert family could have been responsible for O’Keefe’s death.
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