State Police Trooper Michael Proctor was instructed to read messages he exchanged about Karen Read, who is charged with second-degree murder in the death of John O’Keefe. Proctor’s testimony concluded on Wednesday, and the trial then turned to Massachusetts State Police Lt. Brian Tully. Read has pleaded not guilty to all charges and claims she does not recall what happened. Proctor’s testimony was highly anticipated by her defenders who believe she is being framed by corrupt law enforcement officials. Prosecutors have pushed back against the “false narratives” and harassment of witnesses by Read’s defenders.
Read’s supporters believe O’Keefe was not hit by her SUV but was attacked by a dog and brutally beaten at a house party. Her defense team claims Proctor mishandled the investigation and favored the homeowner, Brian Albert, who is also a police officer. Proctor is under internal affairs investigation for a potential violation of department policy related to the Read case. He testified about a broken taillight on Read’s Lexus SUV that prosecutors say matches fragments found near O’Keefe’s body. Read’s attorneys argued that the taillight was damaged when she struck O’Keefe’s car while backing out of his garage.
During Proctor’s testimony, he read messages he sent to friends, relatives, and co-workers in group chats following O’Keefe’s death. In some messages, he referred to Read using derogatory terms and expressed hateful sentiments towards her and her attorney. He also made inappropriate comments about her health conditions. Proctor admitted that his texts were unprofessional and regrettable, but denied that they influenced his investigation. Read’s defense attorney argued that the messages showed bias on Proctor’s part, but Proctor maintained that they did not impact the integrity of the investigation.
Many of the group text messages displayed a negative opinion of Read, with Proctor referring to her using derogatory language and expressing a desire for her harm. He also made disparaging comments about her body and health conditions. Proctor admitted that his comments were disgusting but maintained that they did not affect his handling of the case. The defense continues to argue that Proctor’s bias is evident in his messages, while prosecutors push back against the claims made by Read’s supporters. The trial has been marked by tension between the two sides, with allegations of harassment and intimidation of witnesses by Read’s defenders.
Proctor’s testimony has become a focal point in Read’s trial, with the defense team claiming his messages demonstrate bias against their client. Proctor has faced internal affairs investigation and criticism for his conduct during the investigation. Despite his acknowledgment of the inappropriateness of his messages, Proctor maintains that they did not impact the integrity of his work on the case. The trial continues with ongoing tensions between Read’s defenders and prosecutors, as the case unfolds in the Norfolk Super Court in Dedham, Massachusetts.
