Dashcam video shown in court during day three of Karen Read's murder trial provided the public with a first glimpse of the night Boston police officer John O'Keefe was killed. The footage, however, was obscured by heavy snowfall and police flashlights against the pitch-black night sky. The approximately three-minute video was played in a quiet courtroom without comment or questions from the prosecution or defense.
During the trial, first responders gave conflicting testimonies regarding what they heard at the scene. Some described a 'frantic' and 'distraught' woman yelling, but the exact words were unclear. Testimonies varied, with one responder stating the woman yelled, 'I hit him, I hit him, oh my God I hit him,' while another claimed she said, 'He's dead. He's f---ing dead,' and a third mentioned hearing, 'Is he alive?'
The dashcam footage showed a commotion in front of the police vehicle, with first responders moving O'Keefe's body on a gurney to an ambulance. However, due to the blurry nature of the video, it was challenging to distinguish individuals at the scene.
O'Keefe was found dead outside Boston police officer Brian Albert's home in Canton, Massachusetts, in January 2022, covered in four to six inches of snow, wearing only a T-shirt and missing a shoe. Karen Read was charged with O'Keefe's murder, with prosecutors alleging that she backed over him with her Lexus SUV during an alcohol-fueled altercation.
Read pleaded not guilty to all charges, with her defense team claiming she was framed in a cover-up to protect the influential Albert family, known for their ties to law enforcement, first responders, and prosecutors in the area. Testimonies from Canton first responders Fire Lt. Anthony Flematti and firefighter Kaite McLaughlin suggested that Read incriminated herself by saying, 'I hit him,' but during cross-examination, testimonies were called into question.
Following the trial's opening statements and testimonies from first responders and O'Keefe's family, jurors visited the crime scene on Friday as the trial continued. The jury will ultimately determine whether Read was responsible for O'Keefe's death or if there was indeed a cover-up scheme to protect a local influential family. The trial is expected to last six to eight weeks.
