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Items police used at the scene of John O’Keefe’s death in Canton are shown in court – Boston 25 News

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DEDHAM, Mass. – Testimony continues Tuesday in Karen Read’s murder trial after two Canton police officers took the stand Monday in Norfolk Superior Court and described the use of red solo cups, a leaf blower and a grocery bag found earlier and evidence at the crime scene of Preserve John O’Keefe’s Death.

Karen Read and Officer O’Keefe

Karen Read murder trial

Karen Read and Officer O’Keefe

Karen Read and Officer O’Keefe

Karen Read murder trial

Karen Read and Officer O’Keefe

Karen Read and Officer O’Keefe

Karen Read and Officer O’Keefe

Canton Police Lt. Sean Gallager said the use of these items is not common practice. At that point, Read’s lawyers questioned the way police handled the snowy scene in January 2022.

“Do you believe it is common practice for a police department to borrow red Solo cups from a neighbor to collect evidence?” Read’s defense team asked.

Gallager said he used a leaf blower to remove snow from the area where O’Keefe was found and searched for evidence in front of 34 Fairview Road in Canton.

Canton Police Lt. Paul Gallagher

Blood from the crime scene was collected in individual red cups and placed in a brown paper Stop and Shop grocery bag.

“Objection,” Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally interrupted.

Judge Beverly Cannone said: “You can answer this lieutenant.”

“Of course not,” replied Lt. Gallagher.

More images were shown in the courtroom from the crime scene, Canton police Sgt. Sean Goode pointed out blood and a broken drinking glass in the snow and played a 9-1-1 call from prosecution witness Jennifer McCabe.

Canton Police Sgt. Sean Goode

Lt. Gallagher said McCabe was one of five to six people he saw at the home, which was then owned by her brother-in-law, retired Boston Police Officer Brian Albert. But Lt. Gallagher said there was no reason to search the house for evidence or signs of a struggle.

“Nobody took John O’Keefe anywhere except where he was found, and that included his girlfriend,” Gallagher said.

Read, 44, of Mansfield, O’Keefe, her boyfriend, a Boston police officer, drove her car and smashed her taillight, prosecutors allege.

The defense quickly pointed out that no taillight parts were found during the initial search of the crime scene. They also accuse one of the firefighters who testified last week, Katie McLaughlin, of perjury.

( Click here for summaries of the testimony heard early in the trial )

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