Intense Cross Examination Marks Progress in Karen Read Murder Trial

On Thursday State Police Detective Sergeant Yuriy Bukhenik went back to the witness stand. This came after a tough day of questioning in the Karen Read murder trial on Wednesday. So, Bukhenik was a key investigator in the Read case. He had to answer more questions after remembering talking to Read at her dad house. While, this happened just a few hours after John O’Keefe’s body discovered on January 29, 2022.

During earlier testimony, Detective Sergeant Yuriy Bukhenik showed the clothes that John O’Keefe was wearing when he died. This caused some people in the courtroom to feel emotional on Wednesday.

Karen Read, who is 44 years old and from Mansfield accused of serious charges including second degree murder. Prosecutors claim that she hit O’Keefe with her SUV and then left him to die after dropping him off outside Brian and Nicole Albert’s home in Canton.

O’Keefe and Read were dating. Read’s defense says she’s innocent, suggesting O’Keefe killed at the Albert home party. Bukhenik testified Read and O’Keefe argued on Jan. 28. They went bar-hopping, then to the Albert home. Read dropped O’Keefe off but didn’t see him go inside before leaving.

Prosecutors showed video of Read’s car after O’Keefe died, with damage on her right rear tail light. Earlier footage on Jan. 29 showed Read hitting O’Keefe’s vehicle. The defense claims the tail light broke during this incident not when O’Keefe allegedly hit. But Bukhenik testified no damage seen on O’Keefe’s car or broken plastic in the garage.

Bukhenik Continues Testimony in Read Murder Trial

Court resumed around 9 a.m. on Thursday. After a sidebar, Bukhenik faced new questioning at 9:15 a.m. He talked about returning to the Albert home on Feb. 3 with Trooper Michael Proctor for a second search after recent snow melted.

They found O’Keefe’s belongings in the yard. Bukhenik showed photos and O’Keefe’s baseball hat to the jury, which upset O’Keefe’s family. An audio recording of Read during her arrest played, where she mentioned the Alberts.

Can we all just laugh together? she says. My car’s tail light cracked, and John’s completely smashed. Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally began asking Bukhenik about DNA evidence, but stopped abruptly after a sidebar. Defense attorney Alan Jackson took over.

Bukhenik admitted he first thought O’Keefe died from a fight, possibly involving a glass. He said investigators didn’t think it necessary to keep the house as a crime scene.

He also mentioned it wasn’t suspicious to find a piece of broken tail light at the crime scene, even though the Canton Police Department had recused itself from the case.

The trial ended for the day around noon, with proceedings resuming on Monday. No hearings scheduled for Friday.