DEDHAM – The high-profile Karen Learn homicide trial resumed on Wednesday with a veterinary forensic scientist on the stand.
You’ll be able to watch testimony on CBS Information Boston by clicking on the video participant above.
Learn is accused of fatally hitting her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe along with her SUV after an evening of ingesting and leaving him to die within the snow. Her protection group argues that O’Keefe was killed throughout a struggle inside Brian Albert’s house, then dragged exterior.
Colin Albert picked up from Fairview Highway
Allie McCabe, the daughter of Jennifer McCabe, took the stand Wednesday afternoon. Jennifer McCabe was with Learn and one other girl once they found O’Keefe’s physique within the snow round 6 a.m. on January 29, 2022.
Learn’s attorneys have stated Jennifer McCabe performs a key position within the alleged coverup.
Allie McCabe testified that she picked up Brian Albert’s nephew, Colin Albert from 34 Fairview Highway the evening of O’Keefe’s demise.
Protection attorneys have argued that Colin Albert was one of many males concerned in an alleged struggle inside the house.
Allie McCabe stated she texted Colin Albert “Right here!” and he got here out inside a couple of minutes. She stated Colin Albert was behaving usually and she or he didn’t discover that he had any accidents.
Textual content messages with Colin Albert
Prosecutor Adam Lally requested to submit textual content messages between Allie McCabe and Colin Albert as proof. Protection legal professional David Yannetti objected, resulting in questioning with out jurors current.
With jurors out of the room, Yannetti requested if Allie McCabe was conscious it’s attainable to vary time stamps on messages. She stated she didn’t know that.
Choose Beverly Cannone allowed the textual content messages into proof. With jurors again within the room, Lally displayed the messages.
At 11:54 p.m. on January 28, 2022, Colin Albert texted “U can get me now. If simpler.” Allie McCabe replied a minute later, saying “okay i’m driving ppl house now.” Colin Albert replied, “Phrase” adopted by “Get me after.”
At 12:10 a.m. on January 29, 2022, Allie McCabe messaged “right here” and Colin Albert replied “Okay.”
Lally then displayed images of Colin Albert that had been taken about two weeks after O’Keefe’s demise. The prosecutor requested Allie McCabe if that’s what she remembers Colin Albert’s look, together with his face and palms, trying like that evening. She stated sure.
CBS Boston
Black SUV on Fairview Highway
Ryan Nagel, the brother of Julie Nagel, testified on Wednesday. Julie Nagel was on the stand earlier within the week, saying that whereas leaving Brian Albert’s house she noticed a “black blob” within the garden.
Julie Nagel had testified that originally she known as her brother to come back choose her up, however when he arrived in his good friend’s truck she instructed him she was going to remain a bit longer.
Ryan Nagel stated that he and two buddies arrived on Fairview Highway across the similar time as a black SUV. Learn was driving a black Lexus SUV on the time of O’Keefe’s demise.
In response to Ryan Nagel, he seen the brake lights on the SUV, however not parking lights. He stated he by no means noticed anybody get out of the car or go into the home.
Ryan Nagel testified that after his sister went again inside the house, he pulled across the SUV and drove off.
He stated he noticed a lady behind the wheel along with her palms on the steering wheel.
On cross-examination, protection legal professional Alan Jackson requested the witness if he seen any injury to the SUV.
“I imply I had been ingesting, I wasn’t searching for injury on her automotive. I simply seen brake lights,” Ryan Nagel stated, testifying earlier that he had 5-8 beers at a close-by bar earlier than coming to the home.
Ryan Nagel additionally testified that he by no means noticed the SUV hit a pedestrian, and by no means noticed an individual within the garden.
Who was within the SUV?
Heather Maxon, Ryan Nagel’s ex-girlfriend, was within the again seat of the pickup truck the evening the group says they pulled up behind Learn. She took the stand after Ryan Nagel.
Maxon stated that whereas driving within the neighborhood, she seen a lady driving the SUV and a person within the passenger seat when the car turned onto Fairview Highway.
She testified that she by no means noticed anybody get out of the SUV whereas ready exterior the home.
Ricky D’Antuono was subsequent on the stand. He drove Maxon and Ryan Nagel within the pickup truck that evening.
On cross-examination, D’Antuono stated he didn’t hear any arguing, and by no means noticed the SUV strike anybody.
CBS Boston
Canine DNA professional takes stand
Teri Kun from the College of California, Davis veterinary genetics lab, took the stand on Wednesday.
Previous to Kun taking the stand, Cannone warned jurors that generally witnesses should be known as out of order as a result of their schedule.
Kun stated her lab acquired two swabs to be examined associated to Learn’s homicide trial.
Learn’s protection attorneys have argued that in an alleged struggle inside Brian Albert’s house, O’Keefe was attacked by the household’s canine Chloe. Brian Albert and his spouse Nicole Albert testified that the German Shepherd combine was rehomed after an unrelated assault in Could 2022.
In response to Kun, the lab was requested to check the swabs to find out a species from the pattern.
“We didn’t see any canine DNA,” Kun stated.
Kun stated the samples did take a look at optimistic for pig DNA, which she testified can come from meals. Protection attorneys identified that pig DNA might even have come from canine treats.
On cross-examination, Alan Jackson centered on the gathering of the samples and the strategies used. Kun stated she was not readily available when the samples had been collected.
“I do not know how the company collected the swabs,” Kun stated.
Kun stated that in one of many exams, filth and blood might be inhibitors.
“Had been you instructed on this occasion that these swabs had been taken from a garment with blood?” Jackson requested.
“No,” Kun replied, answering follow-up questions saying that garment dye will also be an inhibitor.
What has occurred this week within the Karen Learn case?
On Tuesday, Julie Nagel, a good friend of Brian Albert Jr.’s took the stand. She testified that whereas leaving 34 Fairview Highway, the house owned by her good friend’s father, she noticed “one thing out of the strange … like a black blob on the bottom.” Nagel stated she noticed the article within the space the place O’Keefe’s physique was later discovered, however she did not know what it was.
Nagel was nonetheless on the stand when Tuesday’s proceedings ended for the day. She returned to the stand briefly on Wednesday to finish her testimony.
Jackson stated after court docket that it was a “made-up story.”
“Their case is falling down round their toes. Day by day it appears to crumble that rather more,” Jackson stated.
On Monday, Brian Albert was on the stand for tense cross-examination. He was questioned about why he removed his cellphone the day earlier than he was despatched a preservation discover for his knowledge.
Brian Albert testified throughout direct questioning and cross-examination that Learn and O’Keefe by no means entered his house.
Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger through AP, Pool
Who’s Karen Learn?
Learn is charged with second-degree homicide, manslaughter whereas working inebriated, and leaving the scene of non-public damage and demise.
The 45-year-old Massachusetts girl has pleaded not responsible to the entire prices.
Learn’s supporters, many holding “Free Karen Learn” indicators or sporting shirts with the slogan, have been current exterior Norfolk Superior Court docket in Dedham all through the trial. They’re required to stay no less than 200 toes away from Norfolk Superior Court docket in a “buffer zone” set by Cannone in an effort to keep up an unbiased jury.
