Karen Read trial: Defense challenges firefighter's testimony as he is unable to identify woman in dashcam video
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
CANTON, MASSACHUSETTS: The third day of the high-profile case trial involving Karen Read, who has been accused of killing her boyfriend John O'Keefe, resumed on Thursday, May 2, 2024.
The trial featured additional testimony from first responders, four of whom had testified in previous hearings.
Notably, both the prosecution and defense extensively questioned each witness about what they heard Karen Read say at the scene of the incident.
For context, prosecutors allege that Read struck O'Keefe with her SUV, while Read maintains that she has been framed as part of a broader cover-up. Read has pleaded not guilty and is currently out on bond.
Read faces second-degree murder charges in connection with the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe.
Lt Anthony Flematti recounts Karen Read’s statements at the crime scene
On Thursday, the trial's third day commenced with the testimony of Canton firefighter Lt Anthony Flematti, who had initiated his account on the second day of trial.
Flematti, one of the first responders to O'Keefe's death scene, faced questioning from Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally about his arrival at the scene, department protocols, and the weather conditions on the night the victim's body was discovered.
Flematti described encountering three women, in addition to O'Keefe, at the scene, NBC 10 reported.
He noted O'Keefe's body was covered by 4-6 inches of snow upon his arrival and that he was underdressed for the weather, wearing only a long-sleeve T-shirt and jeans.
This contradicted earlier testimony from another witness who claimed O'Keefe was appropriately dressed for the weather.
Flematti stated that upon arrival, he engaged with Read to ascertain what had happened as she appeared to be the most distressed.
He mentioned she was attempting CPR but exhibited erratic behavior. Flematti then recounted Read's statements when he attempted to gather information, "'I hit him, I hit him, oh my God I hit him, I hit him, I hit him.'"
Firefighter could not identify the woman and himself in the dashcam video
During defense attorney Alan Jackson's cross-examination of Flematti regarding Read's response, Jackson sought to challenge the consistency of Read's statements at the crime scene.
Jackson focused particularly on the moment when the fire lieutenant redirected Read to speak with a different firefighter after she refused to provide any answers.
Jackson then presented body camera footage from the night of the incident, intending for Flematti to identify the segment where he conversed with Read.
However, Judge Beverly Cannone requested to review the footage first and instructed the jurors to leave the room.
Following a recess, Jackson proceeded to display dashcam footage, specifically a still image from Officer Saraf's dashcam, which depicted various individuals moving around and first responders attending to O'Keefe.
Flematti found it challenging to identify anyone in the dashcam video, including himself and the woman, due to the weather conditions obscuring the footage.
Jackson focused on a section of the dashcam video showing the closure of ambulance doors and questioned Flematti if he was inside the ambulance at that time.
Flematti confirmed being inside the ambulance at some point but couldn't ascertain if he remained there throughout, as he might have exited to retrieve equipment.
During cross-examination, Jackson also highlighted that Flematti's reports to investigators or doctors did not mention Read's alleged statement about O'Keefe possibly being hit by a vehicle.
Flematti acknowledged the importance of including such information but admitted it was absent from his reports.
In redirect, Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally revisited Flematti's conversation with Read, emphasizing that it occurred upon Flematti's initial arrival at the scene.
