DEDHAM – The Karen Learn homicide trial resumed Monday with tense cross-examination of Brian Albert, the proprietor of the Canton, Massachusetts dwelling the place Learn’s boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe was discovered lifeless in January 2022.
Albert, a former Boston Police officer, started testifying in Norfolk Superior Courtroom in Dedham final Friday. He described O’Keefe as a buddy, however admitted he didn’t know him properly.
Learn, 45, is charged with second-degree homicide within the case. Prosecutors say she hit and killed O’Keefe together with her SUV. Protection attorneys say Learn is being framed and O’Keefe was killed throughout a struggle inside Albert’s dwelling. Albert mentioned O’Keefe by no means entered his dwelling that night time.
Albert, who just lately retired, was consuming with a bunch that included Learn and O’Keefe on the Waterfall Bar & Grille in Canton on January 28, 2022.
Charles Krupa / AP
Brian Albert’s cellphone
Protection lawyer Alan Jackson, with out the jury current, accused Albert of destroying cellphone knowledge. Albert was given a preservation order for his cellphone use from January 28 to February 28, 2022.
In accordance with Albert, he had upgraded his cellphone earlier than studying of the order.
After questioning with out the jury current, jurors returned to the room and Jackson questioned Albert about what occurred to his cellphone knowledge.
Albert mentioned he received a brand new telephone round September 22, 2022, and the preservation was ordered on September 23, 2022.
“So in accordance with you, you removed the telephone that was the topic of a court-ordered preservation the day earlier than it was ordered preserved? Proper?” Jackson requested.
“September 4 was my birthday. The telephone was damaged and failing. I had deliberate on getting a brand new telephone and that simply occurred to be the day I received it,” Albert mentioned.
Cellphone calls the night time John O’Keefe died
Jackson confirmed Albert surveillance video from the Waterfall bar that seems to point out him and ATF agent Brian Higgins play-fighting.
Albert mentioned the 2 have been “playing around,” however Jackson has tried to point out that they have been training combating methods.
Information present Albert and Higgins later exchanged calls round 2 a.m. on January 29, 2022. Albert mentioned he “inadvertently” known as Higgins, calling it a “butt dial.” Higgins known as Albert again, however Albert testified the 2 by no means spoke.
“That subsequent morning, whereas every little thing was occurring, I discussed to Brian ‘I could have butt-dialed you final night time. Sorry about that,'” Albert testified.
“Did you two each conform to say that these have been butt dials so as to cowl up these calls?” Jackson requested, to which Albert replied, “We didn’t say that.”
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Cross-examination of Brian Albert
A number of members of the group from Waterfall returned to Albert’s Fairview Street dwelling after leaving the bar. O’Keefe’s physique was discovered hours in a while Albert’s garden. Learn’s attorneys argue that O’Keefe was killed throughout a struggle inside the house, then dragged outdoors.
On Monday, Jackson peppered Albert with questions.
Jackson learn a transcript from earlier grand jury testimony Albert gave, when he mentioned “I’ve by no means met or seen [Karen Read] earlier than. Possibly as soon as, however I’ve by no means had a dialog together with her I do not assume.” Jackson mentioned the assertion was not true, as a result of that they had beforehand met.
Jackson displayed a photograph of Albert, O’Keefe and two others that was taken the week earlier than O’Keefe’s demise. In accordance with Jackson, Learn took the photograph.
Albert testified that the night time at Waterfall in Canton, he didn’t speak to Learn. Jackson performed surveillance video that he mentioned reveals Albert speaking to Learn.
Jackson requested Albert if he was attempting to “distance” himself from the truth that he knew O’Keefe and Learn throughout his grand jury testimony.
“Mr. Albert, you knew in case you had a relationship with John O’Keefe or Karen Learn, you knew you’d have lots to reply for when his physique ended up lifeless in your garden six days later?” Jackson requested, to which the prosecution objected.
Jackson confirmed a video from Albert’s yard and requested if it was potential to maneuver a big heavy object out of the basement and never carry it via the home. Albert answered sure. “There’s a bulkhead door you need to use,” he mentioned.
Brian Albert says Learn, O’Keefe by no means entered dwelling
On Friday, Albert first took the witness stand and testified in regards to the night time of O’Keefe’s demise. He mentioned Learn and O’Keefe by no means entered his dwelling that night time.
Throughout cross-examination, Jackson requested Albert if O’Keefe got here into the home. He mentioned no, one thing he reiterated when cross-examination continued on Monday.
“John by no means got here into my home that night time. He would’ve been welcomed. And the defendant would’ve been welcomed if she had come,” Albert mentioned. “I want that they had come over that night time, they might’ve been welcomed with open arms. I actually do.”
Jackson requested Albert why he by no means went outdoors after seeing the police exercise the morning O’Keefe died. Albert mentioned he by no means seen something was occurring till after O’Keefe’s physique had been taken from the scene to the hospital.
“At the moment, there was no sufferer outdoors my home. There was nobody who wanted first support. There was nothing I might do,” Albert mentioned.
Months after O’Keefe’s demise, Albert offered the house. He testified on Friday that the sale was not due to O’Keefe’s demise.
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Who was inside Brian Albert’s dwelling?
Albert was questioned on who was inside his dwelling the night time O’Keefe died.
Particularly, Jackson requested Albert why he and his spouse each disregarded their nephew, Colin Albert from the record.
“Did each of you conveniently overlook that Colin had been there?” Jackson requested. Albert mentioned he didn’t point out Colin Albert as a result of he left shortly after he returned dwelling from Waterfall.
Brian Albert Jr. testifies he noticed dark-colored SUV
Subsequent on the stand was Brian Albert Jr., Brian Albert’s son. He was the primary witness who has testified to seeing a darkish SUV outdoors 34 Fairview the night time O’Keefe died.
“There was one other automobile that I did not, hadn’t acknowledged earlier than. It was a darkish SUV,” Brian Albert Jr. mentioned.
CBS Boston
Albert mentioned he was sitting on the household eating room desk and regarded out the window. He mentioned he noticed the SUV close to the mailbox, then later regarded once more and it was nearer to the flagpole with the passenger facet in the direction of the home.
Learn was driving a black Lexus SUV on the time of O’Keefe’s demise.
Albert Jr. mentioned he noticed tire tracks within the snow. The protection pushed the 25-year-old about his imaginative and prescient.
“So that you’d agree that visibility in entrance of the home was adequate that you may see tire tracks? However you didn’t see a 220-pound man mendacity within the snow in your entrance yard?” protection lawyer Elizabeth Little requested. Albert Jr. mentioned he didn’t.
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Earlier witness accused of perjury
Brian Albert’s daughter, Caitlin Albert, took the stand after her father and brother. She testified that O’Keefe and Learn by no means entered the Fairview Street dwelling the night time of his demise.
The protection questioned Caitlin Albert about her relationship with Canton firefighter-paramedic Katie McLaughlin. “I can not consider a time presumably ever the place her and I ever frolicked one on one or individually,” Caitlin Albert mentioned.
Courtroom ended for the day with Caitlin Albert nonetheless on the stand. She was dismissed for the day and cross-examination will resume on Tuesday.
After jurors left the room, Decide Beverly Cannone heard arguments from all sides about prior testimony of McLaughlin.
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Whereas on the stand earlier within the trial, McLaughlin mentioned she heard Learn repeatedly say “I hit him” when she was on scene after O’Keefe’s physique was discovered. Yannetti argued Monday that McLaughlin modified her story “as soon as she realized this was the Albert household.”
Protection lawyer David Yannetti argued that McLaughlin dedicated perjury when she described herself as an acquaintance, not a buddy, of Caitlin Albert.
Yannetti mentioned he acquired a “deluge” of pictures following McLaughlin’s testimony. Learn’s attorneys argue the photographs present McLaughlin and Caitlin Albert are pals.
Prosecutor Adam Lally mentioned Yannetti is being “deliberately imprecise” about the place he received the images from. Lally additionally mentioned Yannetti was mischaracterizing the testimony about what Learn was heard saying on the scene.
Cannone didn’t rule on the difficulty Monday. She mentioned she’s going to look over her notes and resolve on Tuesday.
Who’s Karen Learn?
Prosecutors mentioned Learn dropped O’Keefe off at Albert’s dwelling after an evening of consuming in January 2022 and hit him together with her SUV as she drove away, leaving him for lifeless in a snowstorm. Along with second-degree homicide, Learn can be charged with manslaughter whereas working inebriated, and leaving the scene of private damage and demise.
Learn has pleaded not responsible to all the expenses.
DEDHAM – The Karen Learn homicide trial resumed Monday with tense cross-examination of Brian Albert, the proprietor of the Canton, Massachusetts dwelling the place Learn’s boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe was discovered lifeless in January 2022.
Albert, a former Boston Police officer, started testifying in Norfolk Superior Courtroom in Dedham final Friday. He described O’Keefe as a buddy, however admitted he didn’t know him properly.
Learn, 45, is charged with second-degree homicide within the case. Prosecutors say she hit and killed O’Keefe together with her SUV. Protection attorneys say Learn is being framed and O’Keefe was killed throughout a struggle inside Albert’s dwelling. Albert mentioned O’Keefe by no means entered his dwelling that night time.
Albert, who just lately retired, was consuming with a bunch that included Learn and O’Keefe on the Waterfall Bar & Grille in Canton on January 28, 2022.
Charles Krupa / AP
Brian Albert’s cellphone
Protection lawyer Alan Jackson, with out the jury current, accused Albert of destroying cellphone knowledge. Albert was given a preservation order for his cellphone use from January 28 to February 28, 2022.
In accordance with Albert, he had upgraded his cellphone earlier than studying of the order.
After questioning with out the jury current, jurors returned to the room and Jackson questioned Albert about what occurred to his cellphone knowledge.
Albert mentioned he received a brand new telephone round September 22, 2022, and the preservation was ordered on September 23, 2022.
“So in accordance with you, you removed the telephone that was the topic of a court-ordered preservation the day earlier than it was ordered preserved? Proper?” Jackson requested.
“September 4 was my birthday. The telephone was damaged and failing. I had deliberate on getting a brand new telephone and that simply occurred to be the day I received it,” Albert mentioned.
Cellphone calls the night time John O’Keefe died
Jackson confirmed Albert surveillance video from the Waterfall bar that seems to point out him and ATF agent Brian Higgins play-fighting.
Albert mentioned the 2 have been “playing around,” however Jackson has tried to point out that they have been training combating methods.
Information present Albert and Higgins later exchanged calls round 2 a.m. on January 29, 2022. Albert mentioned he “inadvertently” known as Higgins, calling it a “butt dial.” Higgins known as Albert again, however Albert testified the 2 by no means spoke.
“That subsequent morning, whereas every little thing was occurring, I discussed to Brian ‘I could have butt-dialed you final night time. Sorry about that,'” Albert testified.
“Did you two each conform to say that these have been butt dials so as to cowl up these calls?” Jackson requested, to which Albert replied, “We didn’t say that.”
CBS Boston
Cross-examination of Brian Albert
A number of members of the group from Waterfall returned to Albert’s Fairview Street dwelling after leaving the bar. O’Keefe’s physique was discovered hours in a while Albert’s garden. Learn’s attorneys argue that O’Keefe was killed throughout a struggle inside the house, then dragged outdoors.
On Monday, Jackson peppered Albert with questions.
Jackson learn a transcript from earlier grand jury testimony Albert gave, when he mentioned “I’ve by no means met or seen [Karen Read] earlier than. Possibly as soon as, however I’ve by no means had a dialog together with her I do not assume.” Jackson mentioned the assertion was not true, as a result of that they had beforehand met.
Jackson displayed a photograph of Albert, O’Keefe and two others that was taken the week earlier than O’Keefe’s demise. In accordance with Jackson, Learn took the photograph.
Albert testified that the night time at Waterfall in Canton, he didn’t speak to Learn. Jackson performed surveillance video that he mentioned reveals Albert speaking to Learn.
Jackson requested Albert if he was attempting to “distance” himself from the truth that he knew O’Keefe and Learn throughout his grand jury testimony.
“Mr. Albert, you knew in case you had a relationship with John O’Keefe or Karen Learn, you knew you’d have lots to reply for when his physique ended up lifeless in your garden six days later?” Jackson requested, to which the prosecution objected.
Jackson confirmed a video from Albert’s yard and requested if it was potential to maneuver a big heavy object out of the basement and never carry it via the home. Albert answered sure. “There’s a bulkhead door you need to use,” he mentioned.
Brian Albert says Learn, O’Keefe by no means entered dwelling
On Friday, Albert first took the witness stand and testified in regards to the night time of O’Keefe’s demise. He mentioned Learn and O’Keefe by no means entered his dwelling that night time.
Throughout cross-examination, Jackson requested Albert if O’Keefe got here into the home. He mentioned no, one thing he reiterated when cross-examination continued on Monday.
“John by no means got here into my home that night time. He would’ve been welcomed. And the defendant would’ve been welcomed if she had come,” Albert mentioned. “I want that they had come over that night time, they might’ve been welcomed with open arms. I actually do.”
Jackson requested Albert why he by no means went outdoors after seeing the police exercise the morning O’Keefe died. Albert mentioned he by no means seen something was occurring till after O’Keefe’s physique had been taken from the scene to the hospital.
“At the moment, there was no sufferer outdoors my home. There was nobody who wanted first support. There was nothing I might do,” Albert mentioned.
Months after O’Keefe’s demise, Albert offered the house. He testified on Friday that the sale was not due to O’Keefe’s demise.
CBS Boston
Who was inside Brian Albert’s dwelling?
Albert was questioned on who was inside his dwelling the night time O’Keefe died.
Particularly, Jackson requested Albert why he and his spouse each disregarded their nephew, Colin Albert from the record.
“Did each of you conveniently overlook that Colin had been there?” Jackson requested. Albert mentioned he didn’t point out Colin Albert as a result of he left shortly after he returned dwelling from Waterfall.
Brian Albert Jr. testifies he noticed dark-colored SUV
Subsequent on the stand was Brian Albert Jr., Brian Albert’s son. He was the primary witness who has testified to seeing a darkish SUV outdoors 34 Fairview the night time O’Keefe died.
“There was one other automobile that I did not, hadn’t acknowledged earlier than. It was a darkish SUV,” Brian Albert Jr. mentioned.
CBS Boston
Albert mentioned he was sitting on the household eating room desk and regarded out the window. He mentioned he noticed the SUV close to the mailbox, then later regarded once more and it was nearer to the flagpole with the passenger facet in the direction of the home.
Learn was driving a black Lexus SUV on the time of O’Keefe’s demise.
Albert Jr. mentioned he noticed tire tracks within the snow. The protection pushed the 25-year-old about his imaginative and prescient.
“So that you’d agree that visibility in entrance of the home was adequate that you may see tire tracks? However you didn’t see a 220-pound man mendacity within the snow in your entrance yard?” protection lawyer Elizabeth Little requested. Albert Jr. mentioned he didn’t.
CBS Boston
Earlier witness accused of perjury
Brian Albert’s daughter, Caitlin Albert, took the stand after her father and brother. She testified that O’Keefe and Learn by no means entered the Fairview Street dwelling the night time of his demise.
The protection questioned Caitlin Albert about her relationship with Canton firefighter-paramedic Katie McLaughlin. “I can not consider a time presumably ever the place her and I ever frolicked one on one or individually,” Caitlin Albert mentioned.
Courtroom ended for the day with Caitlin Albert nonetheless on the stand. She was dismissed for the day and cross-examination will resume on Tuesday.
After jurors left the room, Decide Beverly Cannone heard arguments from all sides about prior testimony of McLaughlin.
CBS Boston
Whereas on the stand earlier within the trial, McLaughlin mentioned she heard Learn repeatedly say “I hit him” when she was on scene after O’Keefe’s physique was discovered. Yannetti argued Monday that McLaughlin modified her story “as soon as she realized this was the Albert household.”
Protection lawyer David Yannetti argued that McLaughlin dedicated perjury when she described herself as an acquaintance, not a buddy, of Caitlin Albert.
Yannetti mentioned he acquired a “deluge” of pictures following McLaughlin’s testimony. Learn’s attorneys argue the photographs present McLaughlin and Caitlin Albert are pals.
Prosecutor Adam Lally mentioned Yannetti is being “deliberately imprecise” about the place he received the images from. Lally additionally mentioned Yannetti was mischaracterizing the testimony about what Learn was heard saying on the scene.
Cannone didn’t rule on the difficulty Monday. She mentioned she’s going to look over her notes and resolve on Tuesday.
Who’s Karen Learn?
Prosecutors mentioned Learn dropped O’Keefe off at Albert’s dwelling after an evening of consuming in January 2022 and hit him together with her SUV as she drove away, leaving him for lifeless in a snowstorm. Along with second-degree homicide, Learn can be charged with manslaughter whereas working inebriated, and leaving the scene of private damage and demise.
Learn has pleaded not responsible to all the expenses.