Plow Driver Testimony Boosts Karen Read’s Defense in Boston Cop Death Case
Karen Read’s defense has gained significant momentum as plow driver Brian Loughran testified that he did not see a body at the location where prosecutors allege she left her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, to die in the snow. Loughran’s testimony, given during the ongoing trial, has become a focal point in challenging the prosecution’s timeline and the circumstances of the officer’s death.
Loughran, who makes multiple passes on the streets after heavy snowfall, stated that he had good visibility due to the lights on his plow truck and a high seat, which allowed him to see clearly even in blizzard conditions. He testified that upon multiple passes of 34 Fairview Road, where O’Keefe was found, he did not observe any body in the snow. His testimony has been particularly damaging to the prosecution’s case, which has already faced several complications.
According to prosecutors, O’Keefe’s last known activity came to a stop around 12:30 a.m., and his body allegedly did not move until first responders arrived around 6 a.m. However, Loughran’s account directly contradicts this timeline by asserting that he did not see the body in the snow during his multiple passes over the area. He also mentioned that he had previously seen a Ford Edge SUV parked outside the Albert family’s house, which stood out to him as it was not a common occurrence in the neighborhood.
The prosecution’s case is facing scrutiny due to various testimonies that have raised questions about its reliability. Mark Bederow, a defense attorney closely following the case, emphasized that Loughran’s testimony has significantly weakened the prosecution’s position. Bederow noted that the plow driver’s assertion that he saw nothing, despite the alleged time frame for O’Keefe’s death, has been a critical blow to the case.
During cross-examination, prosecutors questioned Loughran on allegations of threats from an online blogger and inconsistencies in his timeline. Loughran maintained that he had not been threatened and that his account was based on his own observations. His testimony was also corroborated by other evidence, including vehicle data that placed Read at the scene during the time of O’Keefe’s final movements. However, the defense continues to argue that the prosecution’s case is built on circumstantial evidence and may not prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Other key evidence presented by the defense includes the testimony of Karina Kolokithas, a friend of both Read and O’Keefe, who stated that she did not perceive Read to be visibly intoxicated on the night of the incident. Additionally, surveillance video from the Waterfall Bar and Grille, where O’Keefe and Read were seen the night before his death, supports the defense’s effort to sow reasonable doubt. These efforts may further weaken the prosecution’s case as the trial continues.