Karen Read trial concludes second week of testimony with forensic scientist set to return Monday
The second week of Karen Read's trial has concluded following testimony from key witness Jennifer McCabe, forensic scientist Hannah Knowles and digital intelligence expert Ian Whiffin
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Karen Read slams nemesis Jennifer McCabe's testimony, points to inconsistencies in story
Karen Read came out swinging following the second week of testimony in her retrial on Friday, accusing witness Jennifer McCabe of being the “quarterback” behind the alleged cover-up scheme framing her for the murder of John O’Keefe.
When asked by reporters what she felt the jurors thought of McCabe’s testimony, Read said, “What anyone with common sense would think of Jen McCabe, I hope.”
Read went on to point out what she found to be holes in McCabe’s testimony, claiming McCabe would be unable to orchestrate the plot to frame her for O’Keefe’s murder.
“It’s always inconsistent, she's not consistent” Read said, adding, “I would maybe use the word quarterback.”
Regarding state witness testimony surrounding lab results showing her 0.093% blood alcohol concentration in the hours after O'Keefe's death, Read remained defiant on the findings.
"I think it's garbage in, garbage out," Read said. "It depends on their assumption of when I last consumed alcohol. It's an assumption."
In response to questions about McCabe’s actions on the morning O’Keefe was found, Read questioned McCabe's decision to not alert police officer Brian Albert, who was asleep inside his home at 34 Fairview on Jan. 29, 2022.
“I know Jen McCabe said she was only concerned with doing what was best to help John O'Keefe,” Read said. “The best thing for John O’Keefe at 6:04 in the morning was to get a first responder to him immediately, and that was not her priority.”
William Read praises daughter's defense team as trial wraps up second week
Speaking to reporters on the steps of Norfolk Superior Court on Friday, Karen Read’s father, William, praised her defense team’s second week in court as testimony is set to resume Monday.
“Where do you start?” William said. “FBI, inconsistencies with the grand jury testimony versus more recent testimony, just where do you start? Thank God we’ve got a brilliant, brilliant lawyer.”
Second week of Karen Read trial concludes with forensic scientist returning Monday for cross-exam
Following direct examination regarding state police forensic scientist Hannah Knowles’ findings surrounding Karen Read’s blood alcohol concentration on the morning John O’Keefe’s body was found outside 34 Fairview, defense attorney David Yannetti looked to poke holes in the reliability of the tests conducted at Good Samaritan Hospital.
Judge Beverly Cannone then dismissed Court for the weekend, with Knowles set to resume her testimony on Monday.
State calls state police forensic scientist as next witness in Karen Read trial
After Jennifer McCabe left the stand, prosecutor Adam Lally called Hannah Knowles, a forensic scientist for the Massachusetts State Police, as the state’s next witness.
Knowles was tasked with preparing a serum conversion and retrograde extrapolation report pertaining to Karen Read’s blood alcohol concentration on the morning John O’Keefe’s body was discovered at 34 Fairview.
Knowles testified Read’s BAC was 93 milligrams per deciliter - or 0.093% - at 9:08 a.m. on Jan. 29, 2022.
Key witness Jennifer McCabe concludes testimony in Karen Read trial
Following a short line of redirect examination by prosecutor Hank Brennan, Karen Read’s defense attorney Alan Jackson asked witness Jennifer McCabe several follow-up questions regarding her prior testimony indicating she had never refused to speak with law enforcement during the investigation into John O’Keefe’s death.
“You're obviously well aware that in that first interview you stopped the interview cold and refused to answer further questions,” Jackson said.
“Correct,” McCabe replied. “I said, ‘I'm going to stop and I'm going to seek some counsel,’ yes.”
Immediately following McCabe’s testimony, Brennan played a 2024 television interview Read gave to Investigation Discovery.
“I was looking to find him on the side of the road,” Read said in the interview clip. “I was expecting I'd find him and the fear of what I was going to see is the worst feeling I've ever experienced. The anticipation of what is awaiting me was an extreme feeling. It was as extreme a feeling as the grief of realizing what happened to him.”
Jennifer McCabe testifies about mental state in redirect examination with prosecutor Hank Brennan
Following a lunch break, special prosecutor Hank Brennan began redirect examination of Jennifer McCabe.
Brennan presented McCabe with numerous logs showing her phone calls and text messages from after John O’Keefe’s lifeless body was discovered outside 34 Fairview on the morning of Jan. 29, 2022.
“Every time I close my eyes, it's all I see,” McCabe wrote in a text message to Kerry Roberts. “I feel like I'm going to vomit. I just can't even. I know how close you two are. Can't imagine how hard the situation is for you.”
“This is awful Jen, I'm in shock,” Roberts wrote back.
Brennan went on to read messages from McCabe to another friend.
“My mind is racing,” McCabe texted. “I have that awful feeling in my gut like I am about to puke. Besides seeing the awful image, trying to wrap my head around what happened to him.”
McCabe testified she was never informed by law enforcement that she should not speak with her family about the investigation, telling the court she was leaning on her loved ones as a support group.
Court resumes after lunch recess in day 8 of Karen Read trial
Judge Beverly Cannone resumed court after lunch recess as Karen Read's defense continues cross-examining Jennifer McCabe.
Court breaks for lunch recess in day 8 of Karen Read trial
Judge Beverly Cannon breaks court for lunch recess.
McCabe admits to searching 'hos [sic] long to die in cold,' claims Read instructed her to search it
During cross examination, Jennifer McCabe admitted to searching "Hos [sic] long to die in cold" on the morning of January 29, 2022.
McCabe said she made the Google search after being asked by Karen Read.
"You also testified that at the time you Google search those phrases, it was Karen Reed screaming and yelling at you, shaking you to Google 'hypothermia,'" defense attorney Alan Jackson asked.
"Correct," McCabe responded.
McCabe also said that Read was pulling on her sleeve at the time.
McCabe testified that she and Kerry Roberts had discussed Read previously asking for the searches to be made.
However, during earlier testimony, Roberts said she never heard Read make the request.
Prosecutors objected to the line of questioning involving Roberts.
Jackson followed up and asked McCabe if she stands by her memory that Read asked her to make the Google search.
"So you're the only person saying that?" Jackson asked.
"Yes, and I stand by that 110%," McCabe replied.
Karen Read defense attorney questions Jennifer McCabe 'butt dials' to John O'Keefe
Defense attorney Alan Jackson questioned Jennifer McCabe regarding several "butt dials" she made to John O'Keefe after midnight on January 29, 2022.
Jackson claimed that McCabe made seven calls to O'Keefe after on January 29, 2022, some of which she claimed were "butt dials."
McCabe acknowledged she spoke with O'Keefe twice after midnight.
Jennifer McCabe cross-examination resumes after recess
Jennifer McCabe's cross-examination has resumed after a recess that lasted about an hour.
McCabe is being asked about phone calls she placed after O'Keefe's body was discovered.
Jennifer McCabe admits to listening in on Kerry Roberts' interview with law enforcement
During cross-examination by Karen Read defense attorney Alan Jackson, Jennifer McCabe admitted to listening in on Kerry Roberts' interview with law enforcement.
Roberts was a longtime friend to John O'Keefe, who was among the group of people that discovered O'Keefe's body outside.
"You were organizing your statements to the police based on what you overheard. What you heard during Kerry Roberts interview with the Massachusetts State Police," Jackson asked McCabe.
"No, I was not," McCabe said. "I was telling them Kerry was speaking with the police."
"And when Mr. McCabe said she could write a book, she's going on, in other words, she's going on and on. Your statement was, 'I love it', correct?" Jackson said.
"Yes," McCabe responded.
"And you reported that back to other witnesses who were not privy to Mr. Roberts's statements to the police, correct?" Jackson asked.
"To my sister and to my brother in law. Yes," McCabe said.
Jackson accused McCabe of "colluding" with other witnesses.
Defense attorney brings up Matt McCabe text to group chat: 'if she fights it, it will be an episode'
Defense attorney Alan Jackson, while cross examining Jennifer McCabe, brought up a text exchange between Matt McCabe, Jennifer McCabe, Nicole Albert and Brian Albert.
In the group text exchange, Matt McCabe texted the others, "If she pleads out, it will end. If she fights it, it will be an episode."
Jennifer McCabe said that Matt was likely referring to Karen Read.
Jennifer McCabe questioned by defense about texts with sister after O'Keefe's body was found
Jennifer McCabe was questioned by defense attorney Alan Jackson regarding text messages she sent to her sister after John O'Keefe's body was found.
"Kerry [Roberts] talked to cops and kept it simple," McCabe texted her sister.
"Ok! Try to get some sleep. Talk tomorrow !!," her sister responded.
"Any update," McCabe asked.
"We'll get more info tomm. Don't want to text about it," her sister responded.
Jennifer McCabe grilled by defense attorney on conversation with Michael Proctor
Jennifer McCabe was grilled by defense attorney Alan Jackson regarding a conversation she had with Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor about Karen Read's broken tail light in the hours after John O'Keefe's body was found.
"Now what I'm asking you is, what did you tell Trooper Proctor on January 29th? That's my question. Do you remember the exact words you used to him on the 29th?" Jackson said.
"I believe I said it was cracked. Missing pieces," McCabe said regarding the Lexus SUV's tail light.
"Do you know that or are you guessing?" Jackson said.
"I'm not guessing," McCabe responded.
"Do you remember that specifically?" Jackson asked.
"I remember describing it as cracked missing pieces," McCabe said.
Jackson then asked McCabe if she and her family were "coordinating some sort of damage control" in what language they would release to the public, press, and law enforcement.
Karen Read defense resumes grilling key witness Jennifer McCabe
Judge Beverly Cannone called court into session Friday morning as key witness Jennifer McCabe is set to continue her cross-examination.
Karen Read arrives to court as trial enters day 8
Karen Read arrived to the Norfolk Superior Court around 8:40 a.m. as her trial on second-degree murder charges enters day 8.
Read was charged in the January 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe.
Read is accused of ramming O'Keefe with her Lexus SUV, then leaving him to die.
Karen Read witness Jennifer McCabe returns for cross-examination after being called a liar
Jennifer McCabe is set to resume cross examination in the Karen Read trial on Friday.
McCabe will be cross-examined by defense attorney Alan Jackson. McCabe was with Kerry Roberts and Read upon discovering John O’Keefe’s body on the morning of Jan. 29, 2022.
While leaving the Norfolk Superior Court on Wednesday, Read called McCabe a liar.
“We know all the details, we know all of the changes in statements,” Read said. “It's just what will [McCabe’s] reaction be? And it's more of the same inconsistencies, every statement is different - under oath, not under oath - the cops are all wrong. This is very similar to what we saw a year ago.”
When asked why she feels McCabe’s testimony is inconsistent, Read responded, “Because she’s lying.”
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