MA - Professor Karen Read, 43, charged with murdering police officer boyfriend John O'Keefe by hitting him with car, Canton, 14 Apr 2023 #12

[arielilane]

@TedDanielnews

Judge sends jury out for short recess and leaves the bench to her chambers


9:37 AM · Jun 24, 2024

 

[jepop]

It's so annoying how the cw has the ability to keep interrupting defense witnesses opining on arm wounds. Imo defense has every right to pursue this avenue. The cw did not once produce an expert who was able to reasonably explain those injuries. Investigators and the cw just stuck their heads in the sand and ignored them hoping the jury wouldn't notice or care imo. Surely the jury has a right to hear expert evidence about JO's arm wounds as the cw did not provide any. Do not understand how and why this keeps happenning and how it is ok under rules of evidence and defendants rights, moo

 

[arielilane]

@SueNBCBoston

Judge is back.
Appeared to be looking at a book before she left for chambers.
Not off to a running start this am with multiple sidebars and a surprise early recess for the jurors.


9:47 AM · Jun 24, 2024

 

[nodamselindistress]

Just trying to keep Lally's flimsy case together, I guess.

 

[jepop]

@SueNBCBoston

Judge is back.
Appeared to be looking at a book before she left for chambers.
Not off to a running start this am with multiple sidebars and a surprise early recess for the jurors.


9:47 AM · Jun 24, 2024

Why is that I wonder. This is a great witness who deserves to be heard without interruption imo

 

[arielilane]

@BienickWCVB

Little demonstrates how the prosecution says O'Keefe was standing and asks if his injuries are consistent with being hit by a vehicle at 24 mph. He says no.


9:49 AM · Jun 24, 2024

 

[arielilane]

@SueNBCBoston

Little asks if the injuries are consistent with being hit by a car at 24mph with his arm up?
-no I don’t think so
Sheridan explains why, there should be besides, maybe fractures.


9:51 AM · Jun 24, 2024

 

[arielilane]

@BienickWCVB

Sheridan says the injury to the back of O'Keefe's head was likely the cause of death. Noted extensive bruising, fracture that started at the point of impact, and brain contusions and bleeding.


9:51 AM · Jun 24, 2024

 

[I am not Sherlock H.]

It's so annoying how the cw has the ability to keep interrupting defense witnesses opining on arm wounds. Imo defense has every right to pursue this avenue. The cw did not once produce an expert who was able to reasonably explain those injuries. Investigators and the cw just stuck their heads in the sand and ignored them hoping the jury wouldn't notice or care imo. Surely the jury has a right to hear expert evidence about JO's arm wounds as the cw did not provide any. Do not understand how and why this keeps happenning and how it is ok under rules of evidence and defendants rights, moo

Yes jepop!!! ….. seems that a head of steam starts…… then pin pop and a full stop. And now multiple sidebars, and IIUC the judge is consulting legal text at the bench in open court? And has now retired to chambers? Maybe that directed verdict is going to make an appearance? MOO

 

[jepop]

Head injury: Much more detailed testimony and better explanations than the actual ME. jmo

 

[arielilane]

@SueNBCBoston

Little asking about the impact of the head.
Sheridan explains that could have been the cause of death due to hemorrhaging and contusions.
Says OKeefe would have been unconscious.
Would not have been able to stand or walk.


9:53 AM · Jun 24, 2024

 

[arielilane]

@BienickWCVB

"This would have been the final straw," Sheridan says of the swelling of O'Keefe's brain. "He would have been unconscious for sure," he says.

"If there's a fall involved here, it would be on a hard surface," Sherdian. "Grass is too soft," he says.

 

[jepop]

Yes jepop!!! ….. seems that a head of steam starts…… then pin pop and a full stop. And now multiple sidebars, and IIUC the judge is consulting legal text at the bench in open court? And has now retired to chambers? Maybe that directed verdict is going to make an appearance? MOO

one can only hope

 

[arielilane]

@JHall7news

Sheridan answers: he doesn't find that scenario possible. There should be bruising. Little says at 24 mph - would you expect to see a broken arm? Sheridan says it's possible, yeah.


9:49 AM · Jun 24, 2024

 

[Warwick7]

@BienickWCVB

Sheridan describes the injuries to O'Keefe's arms as "friction injuries", says they were inflicted before he died.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1805230434135019728

View attachment 512755

Little asks if the injuries are consistent with being struck by a vehicle while holding a drinking glass. Lally objects. Judge sustains. Sidebar.

Little again asks if the injuries are consistent with being struck by a vehicle. Another objection. Another sidebar.

Sheridan says he has performed "well over 100" autopsies on motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians.

Little re-asks the question. Sheridan says "if you mean be struck in that part of the arm," I would say no. "You would at least expect bruising."

BBM
Also it was established he has conducted over 13,000 autopsies.

 

[arielilane]

@SueNBCBoston

Is that injury consistent from a fall on grass?
-no, I don’t think so, if there’s a fall, it would have to be on a hard surface.
Little asks about what he looks for in the absence of injuries when doing an autopsy.


-the distinct absence of bruising, especially on the torso, and injuries/fractures on the legs.

 

[arielilane]

@BienickWCVB

"One of the things that struck me is that there was a distinct absence of bruising on the torso," he says. Also noted the absence of injuries to the legs, which he says are common for motor vehicle collisions.

"They can be. They could be," Sherdian says when asked if O'Keefe's injuries are consistent with a fight.

 

[arielilane]

@SueNBCBoston

Little asks Dr. Frank Sheridan to detail the type did injuries he’s seen over his career and what they were caused by.
Now she asks if OKeefe’s injuries were consistent with a physical altercation
-Can be in a general sense
He lists other injuries, hand, that are consistent


9:59 AM · Jun 24, 2024

 

[arielilane]

@BienickWCVB

Little concludes direct examination. Prosecutor Adam Lally begins cross examination of Sheridan.


9:59 AM · Jun 24, 2024

 

[arielilane]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1805239883952202231