Karen Read trial expert questioned over Lexus data, professional credentials
The Karen Read trial resumed Tuesday with a 19th day of witness testimony inside Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Massachusetts. Forensic analyst Shanon Burgess was back on the stand for nearly the entire day for more cross-examination over his report on data from Read's Lexus SUV on the night prosecutors say she hit and killed John O'Keefe.
Read is accused of hitting O'Keefe, a Boston police officer who she was dating, with her SUV in January 2022 after a night of drinking and leaving him to die in the snow outside Brian Albert's home at 34 Fairview Road in Canton. Her defense says O'Keefe was killed during a fight inside the home, then dragged outside and left in the yard.
Special prosecutor Hank Brennan called Burgess as a witness on Monday. Burgess, a forensic analyst from Aperture LLC, testified that Read's Lexus drove in reverse around 12:32 a.m. on January 29, 2022. A prior witness testified that O'Keefe's cellphone stopped moving at almost the exact time.
Read's own words were played for the jury after the prosecution's witness laid out the timeline.
"We think he died right around 12:25, 12:30," Read says in a 2024 interview clip.
Read commented on the clip outside court on Tuesday. "I said we believe, that's what we believe," Read said.
But what Read believes contradicts what Burgess says happened, that Read's car reversed, then John O'Keefe's phone never moved.
"John's phone is still moving, he's still walking after a trigger, a common trigger on my Lexus," Read said outside court.
Shanon Burgess questioned
Defense attorney Bob Alessi finished his cross-examination just before noon on Tuesday and Brennan took over on redirect questioning.
Brennan asked Burgess about his LinkedIn page, which came into question Monday during cross-examination. Burgess said he set it up about 10 years ago and does not routinely update it.
He told Brennan that his resume, which was submitted to the court, is accurate.
"Have you ever inflated your qualifications in any court?" Brennan asked. "No I have not," Burgess responded.
Alessi focused Monday on Burgess' academic credentials, noting that he does not have a bachelor's degree despite starting to study for that degree in 2008.
"Incredible, or uncredible. I'm not sure what the word is," Read said outside court.
Brennan attempted to show that individuals such as Steve Jobs and Bill Gates did not receive their bachelor's degree. The defense objected, and the judge sustained.
Brennan also went through the report of a defense expert, questioning concerns Burgess had with the data.
When court resumed after a lunch break, Burgess showed that he used time stamps from O'Keefe's phone during a three-point turn in the Lexus, minutes before the alleged collision. Burgess said he used that to determine the clock differential between the Lexus and O'Keefe's phone, which is how he arrived at his final report times of the alleged crash.
After Burgess finished testifying, Massachusetts Crime Lab forensic scientist Christina Hanley took the stand. She analyzed a drinking glass and taillight fragments from the scene in Canon.
Hanley will be back on the stand Wednesday morning.
Tense cross-examination
Alessi asked why Burgess used the term collision in his supplemental report, which was submitted on May 8. He said the information came from Massachusetts State Police crash reports.
"Do you state anywhere in your May 8 report that you used those reports at all? Do you list it in your references?" Alessi asked. Burgess said he did not.
"As a matter of fact, this is the first time right this previous moment that you are mentioning those reports at all?" Alessi asked. Burgess said the information was included in his original report.
Timeline called into question
Alessi began Tuesday by highlighting that the center of Burgess' testimony was his claim that his data shows Read's movements "down to the second."
"In point of fact, Mr. Burgess, none of the five timelines that we just reviewed from your presentation are accurate at all, and certainly not down to the second, am I right or am I wrong?" Alessi asked.
"You are wrong," Burgess said.
Alessi then highlighted that in Burgess' presentation that was projected in the courtroom, there is a timeline that shows the time of various events. The timeline is labeled January 29 into January 30, with the events he discusses portrayed as happening on January 30.
The events that Burgess testified about actually happened on January 29, 2022.
"Parlance, yes. But they are still accurate to the second," Burgess said.
Shanon Burgess testimony
The defense attorney on Monday highlighted that Burgess changed his report to adjust his timeline of events based on the different clocks on Read's Lexus and O'Keefe's phone only two weeks ago.
"So in approximately 10 years, this is the first time you've submitted an amended supplemental report in the middle of a trial?" Alessi asked.
"A supplemental report, correct," Burgess said.
Read has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of personal injury and death. Her first trial ended with a mistrial due to hung jury in 2024.
