DEDHAM, Mass. — Witness testimony will continue Tuesday in the Karen Read murder trial after two Canton police officers took the stand Monday in Norfolk Superior Court, describing the use of red solo cups, a leaf blower, and a grocery bag, used to find and store evidence at the scene of John O’Keefe’s death.
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial A photo of Karen Read's Lexis SUV is shown during her trial at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. on Wednesday June 5, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) (Greg Derr/AP)
Karen Read SUV video
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial A copy of text messages between trooper Michael Proctor and his sister Courtney Elberg related to a thank you gift appears on a screen during the Karen Read murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday June 12, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) (Greg Derr/AP)
Karen Read trial
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Evidence collected on Fairview Road, Canton is presented on day 20 of the Karen Read murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. on Wednesday June 5, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) (Greg Derr/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Evidence collected on Fairview Road, Canton is presented on day 20 of the Karen Read murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. on Wednesday June 5, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) (Greg Derr/AP)
Karen Read evidence
Karen Read evidence
Karen Read evidence
Karen Read evidence
Karen Read evidence
Karen Read evidence
Karen Read evidence
Karen Read evidence
Karen Read evidence
Karen Read evidence
Karen Read evidence
The jury is seeing video from C.F. McCarthy’s. The bar before the Waterfall. Lally is asking to note the glass. You can see Read and O’Keefe in the lower left corner
Partial reconstruction of taillight found at crime scene
ADA Lally begins by displaying pictures of broken taillight pieces on the screen and asking Vallier if she recognizes them.
John O'Keefes t-shirt John O'Keefes t-shirt
John O'Keefe sweatshirt John O'Keefe sweatshirt
John O'Keefe sweatshirt John O'Keefe sweatshirt
Jennifer McCabe searches Jennifer McCabe searches
Karen Read murder trial
Video from John O'Keefe Ring doorbell Video from John O'Keefe Ring doorbell
DNA Evidence (Karen Read Trial) DNA Evidence (Karen Read Trial)
DNA Evidence (Karen Read Trial) DNA Evidence (Karen Read Trial)
Karen Read and Officer O'Keefe
Karen Read murder trial
Karen Read and Officer O'Keefe
Karen Read and Officer O'Keefe
Karen Read murder trial
Karen Read and Officer O'Keefe
Karen Read and Officer O'Keefe
Karen Read and Officer O'Keefe
Canton Police Lt. Sean Gallager said using those items is not standard practice. That’s as Read’s lawyers questioned the way police processed the snowy scene in January 2022.
Gallager explained that he used a leaf blower to remove snow from the area where O’Keefe was found and looked for evidence outside 34 Fairview Road in Canton.
Canton Police Lt. Paul Gallagher
Blood from the scene was collected in red solo cups and placed in a brown paper Stop and Shop grocery bag.
“Do you think it’s standard practice for a police department to borrow red solo cups from a neighbor to gather evidence?” Read’s defense team asked.
“Objection,” Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally interrupted.
Judge Beverly Cannone said, “You can go ahead and answer that lieutenant.”
“Of course not,” Lt. Gallagher responded.
More pictures were shown in the courtroom of the crime scene, as Canton Police Sgt. Sean Goode pointed out blood and a broken drinking glass in the snow and a 9-1-1 call made by the prosecution’s witness Jennifer McCabe was played.
Canton Police Sgt. Sean Goode
Lt. Gallagher said McCabe was one of the 5 to 6 people he saw inside the home, then owned by her brother-in-law, retired Boston Police Officer Brian Albert. But Lt. Gallagher said there was no reason to search the home for evidence or signs of a struggle.
“Nobody put John O’Keefe anywhere but where he was found, and that included his girlfriend,” Gallagher said.
Read, 44, of Mansfield, O’Keefe, her Boston police officer boyfriend, with her car and smashed her taillight when doing so, prosecutors allege.
The defense was quick to point out that no taillight pieces were found during the initial search of the scene. They are also accusing one of the firefighters who testified last week, Katie McLaughlin, of perjury.