The trial of Karen Read, charged with second-degree murder in the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, resumed with critical testimony from medical experts and forensic analysts.
Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello, who performed the autopsy on O’Keefe, testified that his body did not show signs of a physical fight. "The small contusions on the backs of his hands were consistent with an attempt to insert an IV," Scordi-Bello said. She noted the absence of bruising on his knuckles or breaks in his fingernails, common indicators of a struggle.
Scordi-Bello explained that O’Keefe’s fourth and fifth ribs were fractured near the sternum, which she attributed to CPR efforts. She detailed how O’Keefe’s body exhibited signs of hypothermia, such as Wischnewski spots and diffused hemorrhages in the pancreas. "These findings strongly suggest hypothermia," she testified.
O’Keefe’s body temperature was recorded at 80.1°F when he was brought to the hospital, well below the threshold for hypothermia. Scordi-Bello highlighted that O’Keefe was wearing only jeans and a long-sleeve shirt, and his wet clothing likely accelerated his heat loss. She further explained that O’Keefe’s high blood alcohol level (0.21 grams per deciliter in the blood and 0.28 grams per deciliter in the vitreous humor) could have inhibited his body’s mechanisms to retain heat, worsening his hypothermia.
Dr. Renee Stonebridge, a neuropathologist, added that O’Keefe’s brain showed signs of acute trauma, with numerous contusions and hemorrhages consistent with blunt force.
"The injuries were acute, occurring within minutes or hours of his death," Stonebridge stated, acknowledging that the trauma could be consistent with a fall or being struck by a vehicle.
The court also heard from Trooper Nicholas Guarino, who conducted a forensic analysis of cellphone data. He discussed the deletion of Google searches from Karen Read’s phone and the defense’s claim that data had been manipulated. Guarino clarified that discrepancies were due to different versions of the Cellebrite software used for extraction.
Defense attorney David Yannetti questioned Guarino’s qualifications and the handling of cellphone evidence.
Yannetti pointed out that Read’s phone had connected to O’Keefe’s Wi-Fi at 12:36 a.m., challenging the timeline of events. Guarino conceded that O’Keefe’s phone showed movement data but maintained that GPS data did not place O’Keefe inside the house at 34 Fairview Road.
Judge Beverly Cannone ruled that certain contested evidence, such as a Google search for DUI attorneys conducted by Read, would not be introduced at this time, emphasizing the need for relevance and fairness in the trial.
The trial will continue with testimony from additional expert witnesses, including accident reconstruction specialists and forensic pathologists. Karen Read has stated her willingness to testify to clarify discrepancies and counter what she describes as "lies," though her legal team will make the final decision.
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