Luka Doncic Lays Out Plan for Mavericks to Bounce Back Against Celtics in NBA Finals

DALLAS — Because the Dallas Mavericks close to Sport 3 of the NBA Finals, they face a 2-0 sequence deficit towards the Boston Celtics. The subsequent two video games shall be performed at American Airways Middle, with a loss in both giving the Celtics a commanding outlook to safe their 18th championship.

The Mavericks are coming off a 105-98 loss in Sport 2 regardless of receiving Luka Doncic, who completed with 32 factors, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. Whereas permitting too many blow-bys defensively was a priority, in addition they turned it over 15 instances, missed eight free throws, had poor perimeter capturing from function gamers, and Kyrie Irving was contained beneath 20 factors once more.

Jun 9, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) dribbles the ball towards Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) in the course of the fourth quarter in sport two of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Backyard. Necessary Credit score: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports activities / Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports activities

In Sport 2, outdoors of Doncic capturing 4 of 9 (44.4%) from the perimeter, the Mavericks shot 2 of 17 (11.8%). Within the sequence, the Slovenian celebrity has made 8 of 21 (38.1%) photographs from deep, his teammates have gone simply 5 of 32 (15.6%), and Irving has missed every of his eight makes an attempt.

“We have got to make photographs. We have got to make free throws and fewer turnovers,” Doncic stated. “These three issues I feel are the important thing for a win — to win.”

The primary half featured dominant scoring outcomes from Doncic, who scored 26 of his 32 factors earlier than the Celtics started being extra aggressive in coverages to gradual him down. He was requested what labored after halftime to get his teammates concerned however reiterated the necessity to make photographs, restrict turnovers, and make free throws.

“Yeah, clearly did not work as a result of we misplaced,” Doncic stated. “However on the finish of the day, we have to make some extra photographs. I feel my turnovers and my missed free throws value us the sport. So I’ve acquired to do approach higher in these two classes. However on the finish of the day, we have to make photographs to win the sport.”

Doncic managed to create benefits to generate high quality photographs for his teammates typically by attacking downhill, resulting in 11 assists. It was a major enchancment coming off a Sport 1 efficiency that concerned an uncharacteristically low one help. The Slovenian celebrity felt he compelled Boston to assist extra after typically making an attempt to protect straight up one-on-one.

“I imply, they’re bodily, yeah. However they attempt to guard one-on-one,” Doncic stated. “I feel right this moment they tried to assist extra. I used to be capable of get some teammates open. However they’re bodily. They’re very bodily. We allow them to be bodily. So they’re fairly, fairly superb on protection.”

A lot tends to be made about homecourt benefit, however Doncic emphasised that no matter the place the sport is performed, they should tighten up in these important areas. “Rating extra factors. However on the finish of the day, it is basketball, away or residence,” he stated. “We have simply acquired to play higher basketball to win.”

The Mavericks face a tall process to beat a sequence deficit towards a extremely profitable Celtics squad with many offensive threats and a tricky protection. Doncic felt his crew’s protection successfully dealt with guarding the 3-point line because the Celtics made 10 of 39 (25.6%) makes an attempt from deep.

“That is why they’re the No. 1 crew within the NBA with the No. 1 report,” Doncic stated. “They’ve plenty of nice gamers. Principally anyone can get off. Truthfully, I feel we did not do a nasty job defending right this moment. We took away threes. We contested extra threes. And like I say, I had too many turnovers, and we missed plenty of free throws. So I feel that value us the sport.”

Doncic continues to energy by means of accidents as he performs out the postseason. After taking a cost in Sport 1 of the NBA Finals, he was identified with a thoracic contusion along with already managing a proper knee sprain and left ankle soreness.

When requested if there was an actual likelihood he wasn’t going to play after being downgraded to questionable, Doncic said there was. ” I imply, I truly was — you recognize, I at all times need to play. So all day we did plenty of issues to prepare for the sport,” he stated.

The Mavericks will want Doncic to proceed to deal with his accidents and play at a excessive degree, however they naturally have to his supporting forged to enhance offensively to get again into the sequence.

Follow MavericksGameday for extra protection of the Dallas Mavericks all through the NBA Finals.

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Luka Doncic’s triple-double not enough to help Mavericks avoid 2-game hole in NBA Finals vs. Boston

BOSTON (AP) — Luka Doncic is piling up accidents and factors in these NBA Finals.

However for the second straight sport, he didn’t get sufficient assist from his Mavericks teammates. This time on an evening when the Boston Celtics did every little thing potential to present Dallas an opportunity to steal a sport on the highway.

Doncic linked on 12 of 21 pictures and completed with 32 factors, 11 assists and 11 rebounds, marking his tenth profession playoff triple double and the primary Finals triple-double in Mavericks’ historical past.

However his teammates went a mixed 26 of 59 from the sector on an evening by which Boston went simply 10 of 30 from the 3-point line, and All-Star Jayson Tatum shot 6 of twenty-two from the sector as Boston received Sport 2 105-98.

All of it added as much as a two-game deficit for the Mavericks because the best-of-seven sequence shifts to Dallas for Sport 3 on Wednesday.

“Each sport we lose is a missed alternative for us,” Doncic mentioned when requested if felt the Mavs missed an opportunity to reap the benefits of an off night time by the Celtics. “On the finish the day, we have now to make pictures to win the sport.”

It was the primary Sport 2 lack of these playoffs for Dallas, which had received three straight — all on the highway. The Mavs now face the daunting activity of getting to beat a Boston staff that has misplaced simply twice this postseason in 4 out of 5 video games. The Celtics are 6-0 on the highway this postseason.

Dallas struggled from each the 3-point line (6 of 26) and the free throw line (16 of 24). Doncic was 4 of 8 from the foul line and had eight of his staff’s 15 turnovers.

“The small issues, you recognize, we have now to do the small issues, and that’s a part of the sport,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd mentioned. “These are factors that we left on the board, and we didn’t shoot free throws properly tonight, and we have now to be higher.”

Doncic began Sport 2 after being listed as possible Sunday morning with a sprained proper knee and left ankle earlier than being downgraded to questionable by the afternoon after a bruised chest was added to his listing of illnesses.

He was cleared to play after going by means of his pregame warmup routine. Doncic believes he sustained the chest harm taking a cost in Sport 1. Throughout pregame introductions Doncic wore an ice wrap throughout the facet of his chest and knee.

“I all the time wish to play,” Doncic mentioned. “So all day we did a variety of issues to prepare for the sport.”

It didn’t appear to trouble him on the outset, as he scored six of Mavericks’ first 11 factors and Dallas sprinted out to a 13-6 lead within the first quarter.

However his mobility did appear to be missing every so often. It confirmed later within the opening interval when Jaylen Brown pushed the ball up the courtroom on a quick break and crossed Doncic over earlier than gliding previous him for a two-handed dunk.

It did not sluggish Doncic down on the offensive finish, the place he continued to chalk up factors and have a verbal back-and-forth with a Celtics fan seated courtside after making consecutive pictures.

What could also be most troubling for Dallas’ hopes the remainder of the sequence is the play of Kyrie Irving.

After ending with simply 12 factors in Sport 1 — the second-fewest of his Finals’ profession — Irving improved with 16 factors on 7-of-18 taking pictures, with six assists and two turnovers. However 10 of his factors got here within the first half, once more leaving Doncic on an island down the stretch.

“My teammates search for me to transform a variety of pictures and reduce the burden, not solely on Luka however your complete staff,” Irving mentioned. “It’s on all of us, man. I’m fairly certain if you happen to hear what all people has to say, they’ll say they need to do one thing higher.”

Extra Mavericks gamers have been extra concerned than in Sport 1, with all 5 Mavericks starters reaching double figures. It was a small comfort to Doncic.

“On the finish of the day, we’ve received to make some extra pictures,” he mentioned. “I believe my turnovers and my missed free throws price us the sport. So I’ve received to do means higher in these two classes.”

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots and misses a three-point try as Boston Celtics guard Jrue Vacation (4) defends through the second half of Sport 1 of the NBA Basketball Finals, Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Boston. (AP Picture/Charles Krupa)(AP)
Boston Celtics ahead Jayson Tatum (0) pressures Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, entrance proper, through the first half of Sport 2 of the NBA Finals basketball sequence, Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Picture/Steven Senne)(AP)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) seems to cross the ball whereas lined by Boston Celtics heart Al Horford (42) through the first half of Sport 2 of the NBA Finals basketball sequence, Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Picture/Michael Dwyer)(AP)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic tries to drive previous Boston Celtics ahead Jayson Tatum (0) through the first half of Sport 2 of the NBA Finals basketball sequence, Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Picture/Steven Senne)(AP)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) seems to shoot over Boston Celtics guard Jrue Vacation (4) through the first half of Sport 2 of the NBA Finals basketball sequence, Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Picture/Steven Senne)(AP)

Celtics traded for Jrue Holiday with NBA Finals in mind, and now they’re 2 wins away from title

BOSTON (AP) — This second is precisely why the Boston Celtics went out and bought Jrue Vacation.

When president of basketball operations Brad Stevens and the remainder of the entrance workplace sat down after final season to piece collectively their subsequent steps following Boston’s Japanese Convention finals loss to Miami, a query hovered over them.

How a lot have been they keen to shake up the core of a group that had misplaced within the NBA Finals in 2022 after which got here up a recreation in need of returning the next season?

Ultimately they opted to swing massive, buying and selling longtime level guard Marcus Good as a part of the deal that netted 7-footer Kristaps Porzingis. Then, after Milwaukee traded Vacation to Portland to get Damian Lillard, the Celtics pounced, dealing former NBA Sixth Man of the 12 months Malcolm Brogdon and large man Robert Williams III to get Vacation.

The daring strikes have confirmed to be precisely what the Celtics wanted, serving to produce a 64-win common season, a romp by way of the primary three rounds of the playoffs and a 2-0 lead over the Dallas Mavericks within the NBA Finals.

For the defensive-minded Vacation, whose protection restricted Kyrie Irving, mixed with a 26-point,11-rebound effort helped Boston salvage its 105-98 Recreation 2 victory, it is the most recent instance that Vacation is the place he’s meant to be.

“I believe that that is what was presupposed to occur. And I’m glad that I’m right here and I’m glad that I’m on this second,” Vacation mentioned previous to the beginning of the Finals.

“(Celtics coach) Joe Mazzulla has talked about that loads, particularly this season is being within the second, and that’s what I’ve tried to do.”

A part of what’s made Vacation so efficient for the Celtics is the 33-year-old’s willingness to adapt his recreation to fill no matter his group has wanted this season.

A No. 3 scoring choice in Milwaukee behind Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton in the course of the Bucks’ 2020-21 championship season, Vacation has accepted being the fourth or fifth choice in Boston. His 12.5 factors per recreation common this common season was the bottom since his rookie season.

However there have been occasions, similar to in Recreation 2, when Dallas doubled up on All-Star Jayson Tatum, put extra strain on Jaylen Brown or Porzingis struggled, when Vacation needed to improve his output.

He’s achieved it, whereas sustaining depth on the defensive finish this season. He was chosen to the NBA All-Defensive second group. It was the sixth time he was picked for the primary or second group in his profession.

Vacation believes it’s a byproduct of the collective unity the group has been constructing all through the season.

“I believe whenever you sacrifice collectively and also you do one thing collectively, it brings you nearer,” he mentioned. “I believe having the ability to undergo wins and losses and to construct one thing, it means loads. … From (roster spots) 1 to fifteen, someone’s sacrificed one thing.”

A part of what’s helped ease Vacation’s transition to Boston has been the familiarity he already had with Tatum, with whom he performed alongside on the 2020 U.S. Olympic basketball group that captured the gold medal in the course of the Olympics in Tokyo.

Tatum mentioned that relationship made periodic check-ins he had at occasions this season with Vacation simpler.

“I might simply verify in or all the time remind him to be your self and, we’re going to wish you in massive moments, clearly like (Recreation 2),” Tatum mentioned.

It’s allowed Vacation to play to his strengths, most notably his capacity to convey a measure of calm to the court docket in Mazzulla’s managed chaos.

Vacation’s additionally been in a position to present stability in crunch time for a group that in current playoff runs generally wilted in these moments, usually attempting to lean on one-on-one play or committing turnovers.

And whereas a participant similar to Good was a dominant alpha on the court docket, Vacation is aware of what it is prefer to play alongside a star similar to Antetokounmpo, and coax the most effective out of them.

Requested to think about what place the Celtics is likely to be in with out Vacation on the roster, Tatum didn’t wish to entertain the thought.

“Good factor we don’t have to search out out,” he mentioned.

It doesn’t matter what occurs over the rest of the Finals, this may not be a one season-and-done cease for Vacation, who signed a four-year extension in April.

“From right here on it’s like — I’m presupposed to be right here,” Vacation mentioned. “And I’m presupposed to be with my teammates. And we’re supposed to do that collectively.”

However there’s just one method he’ll really feel as if his arrival in Boston may be deemed a hit.

“It’s been nice and the journey’s been superior, however on the finish of the day, the job is just not achieved,” he mentioned.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Boston Celtics guard Jrue Vacation celebrates after making a three-point basket in the course of the second half of Recreation 4 of the NBA Japanese Convention basketball finals towards the Indiana Pacers, Monday, Might 27, 2024, in Indianapolis. The Celtics received 105-102.(AP Photograph/Michael Conroy)(AP)

International Dragon Boat Festival returning to Chicagoland

CHICAGO — A competition that blends historical tradition with the joy of sport and competitors is making a return to Chicagoland in July.

The eleventh annual Chicago Worldwide Dragon Boat Pageant might be held on Saturday, July twenty seventh.

The occasion, which is hosted by Nice White North (GWN) Dragon Boat, is bringing Main League Dragon Boat (MLDB) racing to the Ned Brown Forest Protect, popularly generally known as Busse Woods, in Schaumburg and Elk Grove.

Dragon boat racing is a standard Chinese language watercraft exercise that’s over 2000 years previous, with roots in an historical people ritual of contending villagers. It later started as a world sport in 1976.

For the native competition, dragon boat groups are made up of 20 paddlers and a drummer. The drummer is the one who leads the crew by means of the race as their cadence clues to crew into the frequency and synchronization of the paddlers’ strokes.

Groups will participate in 200m, 500m and 2k races as they appear to determine themselves as the most effective paddlers in Chicagoland.

In keeping with organizers, groups taking part within the races might be made up of a number of the nation’s greatest paddlers, Fortune 500 corporations, and visiting Canadian groups. People may also take part by registering for the GWN Expertise Dragon Boat Racing Program.

This 12 months’s occasion will happen on the South Pool on the forest protect and free parking might be obtainable.

Alongside the races, the occasion will even function a Cultural Village and a Well being and Wellness Village for paddlers and spectators.

Officers say entry to the race website and free parking might be discovered by turning south off East Higgins Street, simply east of Freeway 290.

The schedule for this 12 months’s races has not but been posted, and officers say will probably be shared on Monday, July 22. Officers say a website map will even be made obtainable one week previous to the occasion.

Groups or people trying to take part nonetheless have time to register. Registration and charges should be accomplished no later than 10 days previous to race day.

Go to the GWN web site for particulars on this 12 months’s occasion, or for info on find out how to take part.

Sen. John Fetterman, wife involved in Sunday morning crash in Maryland: ‘Worst anniversary ever’

United States Senator John Fetterman was concerned in an early morning crash Sunday morning in Maryland, FOX 29 has realized. 

Shortly earlier than 8 a.m. Sunday, Maryland State Police responded to the realm of I-70 and I-68 in Hancock, Maryland, between Pennsylvania and West Virginia. 

Police say Fetterman, 54, was behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Traverse when he struck the rear of a Chevrolet Impala. 

A passenger in Fetterman’s automotive, and the motive force of the Impala have been each taken by ambulance to Conflict Memorial Hospital in West Virginia.

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In a press release to FOX 29, a spokesperson for Fetterman’s workplace acknowledged that Fetterman and his spouse Gisele have been evaluated a the hospital in an abundance of warning. 

Sen. Fetterman was handled for a bruised shoulder, and each he and his spouse have been discharged later Sunday afternoon. 

They’ve since returned to their house in Braddock, Pennsylvania. 

Maryland State Police say no citations have been issued instantly following the crash, although the investigation is ongoing.

The total assertion from Fetterman’s workplace will be discovered under: 

“On Sunday morning, John and Gisele have been concerned in a automotive accident with one other driver. Out of an abundance of warning, they have been evaluated at an area hospital. John was handled for a bruised shoulder and so they have been discharged that afternoon. They’re doing properly and pleased to be again in Braddock.”

Sen. Fetterman and his spouse uploaded a video to X Monday night with frozen peas from Harris Teeter and Tylenol in tow to offer people an replace on their restoration. 

“You might need heard G and I have been in a automotive accident yesterday. Thanks all for the properly needs. Not one of the best ways to spend our sixteenth wedding ceremony anniversary however we’re doing properly and pleased to be again house in Braddock with the household,” the tweet learn.

Sen. John Fetterman, wife hospitalized after car crash in Maryland

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and his spouse Giselle have been hospitalized following a two-car-crash in Maryland Sunday.

Fetterman was driving a Chevrolet Traverse and struck the rear of a Chevrolet Impala on Interstate-70 in Hancock, based on a Maryland State Police spokesperson. The division mentioned in a press release to USA TODAY that the motive force of the Impala was additionally taken to Battle Memorial Hospital in West Virginia.

No citations got and that an investigation is ongoing, based on the division.

A spokesperson for the senator mentioned in a press release to USA TODAY that the Fettermans have been taken to the hospital out of an abundance of warning and John was handled for a bruised shoulder. The workplace didn’t disclose Giselle’s accidents.

The couple have been discharged Sunday afternoon and are doing effectively, based on the spokesperson.

Fetterman posted a video to his X, previously Twitter, account Monday displaying that he and his spouse have been at their residence in Braddock, Pennsylvania.

Soldiers searching for missing Malawi military plane carrying vice president and 9 others

BLANTYRE, Malawi (AP) — Troopers are looking out hills and forests close to a metropolis in northern Malawi after a navy aircraft carrying the nation’s vice chairman went lacking within the space Monday, President Lazarus Chakwera stated.

The aircraft carrying 51-year-old Vice President Saulos Chilima and 9 others left the southern African nation’s capital, Lilongwe, at 9.17 a.m. and was anticipated to land 45 minutes later at Mzuzu Worldwide Airport, about 370 kilometers (230 miles) to the north. However air visitors management instructed it to show round due to unhealthy climate and poor visibility, Chakwera stated in an handle broadcast dwell on state TV channel MBC. The plane disappeared from radar a short while later, he stated.

“I do know this can be a heartbreaking scenario. I do know we’re all frightened and anxious. I too am involved,” Chakwera stated. “However I need to guarantee you that I’m sparing no obtainable useful resource to search out that aircraft. And I’m holding onto each fiber of hope that we are going to discover survivors.”

Mzuzu is Malawi’s third largest metropolis and the capital of the northern area. It lies in a hilly, forested space dominated by the Viphya mountain vary, which has huge plantations of pine bushes.

The president vowed that search operations would proceed via the evening.

WATCH: A Transient However Spectacular tackle empowering Malawi throughout the pandemic

“I’ve given strict orders that the operation ought to proceed till the aircraft is discovered,” Chakwera stated.

Chakwera stated the U.S., the U.Okay., Norway and Israel provided help within the search operation.

Chilima has been vice chairman since 2020.

He was a candidate within the 2019 Malawian presidential election and completed third. That vote was received by incumbent Peter Mutharika however was annulled by Malawi’s Constitutional Courtroom due to irregularities. Chakwera completed second in that election.

Chilima then joined Chakwera’s marketing campaign as his working mate in an historic election rerun in 2020, when Chakwera was elected president. It was the primary time in Africa that an election outcome that was overturned by a courtroom resulted in a defeat for the sitting president.

The vice chairman had been going through corruption expenses over allegations that he obtained cash in return for influencing the awarding of presidency contracts, however prosecutors dropped the fees final month. That led to criticism that Chakwera’s administration was not taking a tough sufficient stance towards graft.

Chilima was arrested in late 2022 and made a number of courtroom appearances, however the trial has but to begin. He has denied the allegations.

Imray reported from Cape City, South Africa.

Military plane carrying Malawi’s vice president has gone missing, search is underway

BLANTYRE, Malawi — Troopers are looking out mountainous forests close to a metropolis in northern Malawi after a navy airplane carrying the nation’s vp and a former first girl went lacking within the space Monday, President Lazarus Chakwera mentioned.

The airplane carrying 51-year-old Vice President Saulos Chilima, former first girl Shanil Dzimbiri and eight others left the southern African nation’s capital, Lilongwe, at 9:17 a.m. and had been anticipated to land 45 minutes later at Mzuzu Worldwide Airport, about 370 kilometers (230 miles) to the north.

However air site visitors management instructed it to not try a touchdown and to show round due to unhealthy climate and poor visibility, Chakwera mentioned in an tackle broadcast dwell on state TV channel MBC.

Air site visitors management misplaced contact with the plane and it disappeared from radar a short while later, he mentioned.

“I do know it is a heartbreaking scenario. I do know we’re all frightened and anxious. I too am involved,” Chakwera mentioned. “However I wish to guarantee you that I’m sparing no obtainable useful resource to seek out that airplane. And I’m holding onto each fiber of hope that we are going to discover survivors.”

Mzuzu is Malawi’s third greatest metropolis and the capital of the northern area. It lies in a hilly, forested space dominated by the Viphya mountain vary, which has huge plantations of pine timber.

The president vowed that search operations would proceed by way of the night time and mentioned authorities utilizing telecommunications towers tracked the final recognized place of the airplane to a 10-kilometer (6-mile) radius in one of many plantations. That space was the main focus of the Malawi Protection Power search and rescue operation, he mentioned.

“I’ve given strict orders that the operation ought to proceed till the airplane is discovered,” Chakwera mentioned.

Chakwera mentioned the U.S., the U.Okay., Norway and Israel supplied help within the search operation and had supplied “specialised applied sciences” that the president hoped would assist discover the airplane sooner.

Chakwera mentioned Dzimbiri, the ex-wife of former President Bakili Muluzi, was additionally one of many passengers. The group was touring to attend the funeral of a former authorities minister. Three of these onboard had been the navy crew flying the airplane, the president mentioned.

Chakwera requested Malawians to hope for all these onboard and their households.

Chilima has been vp since 2020.

He was a candidate within the 2019 Malawian presidential election and completed third. That vote was gained by incumbent Peter Mutharika however was annulled by Malawi’s Constitutional Courtroom due to irregularities. Chakwera completed second in that election.

Chilima then joined Chakwera’s marketing campaign as his working mate in an historic election rerun in 2020, when Chakwera was elected president. It was the primary time in Africa that an election outcome that was overturned by a court docket resulted in a defeat for the sitting president.

The vp had been going through corruption prices over allegations that he obtained cash in return for influencing the awarding of presidency contracts, however prosecutors dropped the fees final month. That led to criticism that Chakwera’s administration was not taking a tough sufficient stance towards graft.

Chilima was arrested in late 2022 and made a number of court docket appearances, however the trial has but to start out. He has denied the allegations.

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Imray reported from Cape City, South Africa.

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AP Africa information: https://apnews.com/hub/africa

Lead investigator reads ‘regrettable’ messages in court

YET. EXPLOSIVE TESTIMONY TODAY IN THE KAREN REED MURDER TRIAL, THE LEAD INVESTIGATOR IN THIS CASE ADMITS THAT HE WROTE INSULTING AND OFFENSIVE TEXT MESSAGES ABOUT REED WHILE WORKING ON THE CASE. TROOPER MICHAEL PROCTOR SAYS HE’S SORRY FOR THE LANGUAGE HE USED, BUT THAT HE STILL BELIEVES REED IS GUILTY. NEWSCENTER 5 DAVID BIENICK HAS BEEN COVERING THIS FROM THE BEGINNING. HE’S LIVE TONIGHT ONCE AGAIN OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE IN DEDHAM DAVID. GOOD. GOOD EVENING BEN. GOOD EVENING. WE ALREADY KNEW THAT TROOPER MICHAEL PROCTOR IS THE SUBJECT OF AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION BY THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE. TODAY. PROCTOR HIMSELF REVEALED REGRET ACTIONS THAT HE SAYS HE NOW REGRETS WHEN HE WAS FORCED TO READ HIS OWN WORDS. KEEP YOUR VOICE UP LOUD, PLEASE. TROOPER MICHAEL PROCTOR’S VOICE GOT SOFTER AND SOFTER EACH TIME HE READ ONE. ONE OF THE TEXT MESSAGES HE’D WRITTEN ABOUT KAREN REED WHILE INVESTIGATING THE CASE. SHE’S A WHACK JOB. PROCTOR ALSO USED MORE OFFENSIVE TERMS TO REFER TO REED AS HE COMMUNICATED WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY AND STATE POLICE COWORKERS WHILE SEARCHING REED’S CELL PHONE, HE TEXTED THIS TO ANOTHER TROOPER NO NUDE SO FAR. PROCTOR INSISTED HIS COMMENTS DID NOT INFLUENCE HOW HE HANDLED THE CASE, AND THE CONCLUSION THAT HE REACHED THAT REED IS GUILTY OF KILLING HER BOYFRIEND, JOHN O’KEEFE. THE REST OF THE UNPROFESSIONAL AND REGRETTABLE COMMENTS ARE SOMETHING I’M NOT PROUD OF, AND I SHOULDN’T HAVE WROTE IN IN A PRIVATE OR ANY TYPE OF SETTING, MISS REED, DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE LANGUAGE YOU HEARD, LIKE THE STATE POLICE TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE LANGUAGE THEY’VE HEARD EARLIER? PROCTOR SHOWED PIECES OF A TAIL LIGHT FROM REED’S SUV, WHICH HE SAID HE’D FOUND. THE DEFENSE HAS ACCUSED PROCTOR OF BREAKING THE TAILLIGHT HIMSELF, THEN PLANTING THE PIECES AT THE CRIME SCENE. I THINK YOU I THINK YOU GOT TO GET GOOD INSIGHT INTO HIS TRUE BIAS AS TRUE CHARACTER. YEAH, HE’S HE’S A PIG. IS THERE ANYTHING IN THOSE MESSAGES WHERE HE BELIEVES HE SAYS SHE’S INNOCENT AND THAT HE’S TRYING TO FRAME HER FOR EVERYTHING IN THE TEXT MESSAGES SHOW? IS BIAS. THE DEFENSE ALSO MADE THE POINT THAT NONE OF PROCTOR’S COWORKERS ON THE STATE POLICE CALLED HIM OUT FOR THE LANGUAGE THAT HE WAS USING. THE DEFENSE HAS NOT YET DONE WITH MICHAEL PROCTOR. THEY WILL CONT

Karen Learn homicide trial: Lead investigator reads ‘regrettable’ messages in courtroom

Learn is accused of killing her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, with an SUV throughout a winter storm

Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor was made to learn a collection of textual content messages that he despatched about homicide suspect Karen Learn, who’s accused of hitting John O’Keefe, her boyfriend, with an SUV and leaving him to die in a snowstorm.Proctor described his messages as “very regrettable.”Learn, 44, of Mansfield, has pleaded not responsible to second-degree homicide and different expenses. The prosecution says she hit O’Keefe together with her black SUV exterior of a house at 34 Fairview Highway in Canton throughout a snowstorm on Jan. 29, 2022, following an evening of consuming. Her protection plans to argue that another person is accountable for killing O’Keefe. Proctor, a lead investigator within the case, was questioned about messages he shared with a gaggle of mates. After studying one of many messages, through which he known as Learn a “whack job” and an expletive, he apologized to the jury for his “unprofessional” feedback. In a single message despatched to co-workers and supervisors whereas looking Learn’s telephone, Proctor wrote, “no nudes thus far.” Jackson requested if Proctor had ever seemed for bare photos of male suspects. Proctor stated “jokes” have no bearing on the info and integrity of the case.At occasions, Proctor’s voice was barely audible as he learn messages that he described as “juvenile” and “unprofessional.” He testified, nevertheless, that the messages didn’t affect his investigation.Earlier within the day, Proctor’s testimony centered on O’Keefe’s physique and bodily proof from the case. He testified about seeing O’Keefe’s physique within the emergency room and seen abrasions on his proper arm, swollen eyes and blood on the again of his head. He and Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Yuri Bukhenick then traveled to Learn’s dad and mom’ dwelling in Dighton, the place he noticed Learn’s car.”We noticed Miss Learn’s Lexus parked within the driveway,” Proctor stated. “The entrance of it was going through one of many storage doorways. That is the place we noticed a damaged taillight on the fitting of the car.” Proctor stated the car was then towed to the Canton Police Division. “Sgt. Bukhenick and I by no means touched any a part of that car,” Proctor stated. Bukhenick was additionally questioned Monday once more concerning the “mirrored” video that exhibits Learn’s SUV contained in the storage of the Canton Police Division. Protection lawyer Alan Jackson requested Bukhenick to establish an individual who seemed to be behind the car.”They’re in a frozen body. I can inform there are two people again there,” Bukhenick, nevertheless, stated he couldn’t establish Proctor as one of many individuals.Bukhenick stated when he was questioned by the prosecution concerning the video, he didn’t point out to the jury that it was inverted. “It is an correct depiction of the occasions happening,” Bukhenick stated.When requested about what seemed to be a “soar” within the footage, Bukhenick defined that the recording is triggered by movement, there aren’t any “lacking” elements and the video was not manipulated. “The video doesn’t document as a result of it’s not triggered to document,” Bukhenick stated.Nicholas Barros, a sergeant with the Dighton Police Division, testified that he accompanied state police to the residence of Learn’s dad and mom, the place Learn’s automobile was parked. “We noticed a black Lexus SUV within the driveway,” Barros stated. “I noticed that there was some injury to the fitting rear taillight.” Barros stated the taillight was “cracked with a chunk lacking,” and there was “a dent” on the passenger facet of the SUV close to the taillight.Dwell updates:3:56 p.m. Court docket ends for the day. Cross-examination of Proctor will resume on Wednesday.3:51 p.m. Proctor acknowledges that none of his coworkers or supervisors known as him out for his language.3:50 p.m. In a single message to coworkers and supervisors whereas looking Learn’s telephone, Proctor wrote “no nudes thus far.” Jackson asks if he is ever seemed for bare photos of male suspects. Proctor says “jokes” have no bearing on info and integrity of the case.3:47 p.m. Jackson asks how Proctor feels about Yannetti proper now pointing to him within the courtroom. Proctor: “Nonetheless do not look after him.”3:46 p.m. Jackson exhibits an image of Yannetti {that a} co-worker despatched him. Proctor says he responded, “I am going via his retarded shopper’s telephone.” Additionally stated of Yannetti, “I hate that man. I really hate that man.”3:37 p.m. Protection lawyer Alan Jackson begins cross-examining Proctor by asking if he was “bragging” to five co-workers about looking via Learn’s cellular phone. Proctor says he referred to Learn as “retarded.”3:33 p.m. Lally concludes about 3.5 hours of direct questioning of Proctor.3:28 p.m. Proctor says whereas looking the telephone, he got here throughout messaged Learn exchanged together with her lawyer David Yannetti. Says he needed to briefly “freeze” search and switch telephone over to an impartial staff to take away these messages.3:26 p.m. Proctor is speaking about analyzing Learn’s cellular phone. On the protection, Learn immediately has a stunned look on her face. She says one thing to her attorneys.3:20 p.m. One other textual content message from Proctor to a co-worker: “Do you want ladies who s— themselves?” Proctor says “once more a really regrettable remark I made about Ms. Learn’s medical situation.” (She has M.S.)3:10 p.m. In one other message with DiCiccio concerning the health worker not figuring out O’Keefe’s explanation for demise, Proctor says he once more referred to Learn as a “whack job.”3:06 p.m. Proctor is now studying textual content messages he shared with a co-worker, Tpr David DiCicco. Says they had been “busting one another chops” with regard to a convention name with the health worker and the post-mortem. Calls it a “typical joke.”3:01 p.m. Proctor says regardless of his private feedback, “the compelling proof pointed proper at” Learn.2:57 p.m. Proctor’s voice will get softer as he reads the texts. He’s clearly embarrassed. The courtroom officers sign the choose the jury cannot hear him. The choose tells him to talk up.2:54 p.m. Lally arms Proctor a gaggle of messages he exchanged together with his spouse Elizabeth. In a single message, he makes use of a disparaging time period to discuss with Learn. He once more turns to jury and expresses remorse.2:50 p.m. Proctor reads a textual content message through which his sister Courtney says the Alberts wish to get him a present. Says he by no means acquired a present from them.2:43 p.m. Proctor’s voice is barely audible as he reads extra textual content messages about Learn. A courtroom officer alerts to the choose he cannot hear. Proctor says the “juvenile, unprofessional” didn’t affect the investigation. 2:41 p.m. Proctor turns to the jury and says these feedback are unprofessional, he regrets them and shouldn’t have made them. 2:40 p.m. Proctor reads one of many texts he wrote: “From all accounts, he did not do something unsuitable. She’s a whack job, a c—.”2:31 p.m. Proctor reads textual content message from good friend saying, “Guess the proprietor of the house will obtain some s—.” Proctor replied: “Nope, house owner is a Boston cop, too.”2:08 p.m. Lally resumes questioning of Proctor. He is asking about textual content messages Proctor shared with a gaggle of mates. One requested him about “the title of that BPD cop.” He later responded “John O’Keefe” and tells his good friend that O’Keefe took custody of his sister’s youngsters.2:04 p.m. Trial pauses for lunch break. 12:55 p.m. Proctor says he knew Brian and Julie Albert and their son Colin earlier than interviewing them. Says he is aware of them via his sister and that he and his spouse and Julie babysit. 12:45 p.m. Proctor removes taillight fragments from proof bag and exhibits them to the jury. 12:30 p.m. Lally exhibits image of O’Keefe’s Chevy Traverse. Proctor factors to bumper to indicate the place it might need are available in contact with Learn’s Lexus. Protection objects. Sidebar. 12:20 p.m. Proctor says no snow seems to fall off O’Keefe’s car as Learn’s SUV will get shut and no items of pink plastic seem on the snow as Learn pulls away. (The protection says that is the second Learn’s taillight was cracked.) 12:15 p.m. Proctor says after visiting crime scene, they went to O’Keefe’s dwelling to have a look at his car. Says they’d seen Ring digicam video of Learn’s SUV coming near it. 12:10 p.m. Proctor says he by no means went to 34 Fairview Rd alone. Says on Feb. 3, they discovered black consuming straw, O’Keefe’s cap “deep beneath the snow”, items of plastic. 12 p.m. Proctor says after they executed the search warrant on Learn’s SUV on 2/1/22 at Canton PD, it was in the identical situation as he’d seen in on 1/29/22 in Dighton. 11:55 a.m. Proctor says the proof they recovered on 1/29/22 was positioned in non permanent storage space at Canton PD as a result of they did not have entry to everlasting storage locker. 11:45 a.m. “Sgt. Bukhenik and I by no means touched any a part of that car,” Proctor says concerning the SUV when it was on the Canton Police Dept. 11:37 a.m. Proctor says he seen “damaged” taillight on Learn’s SUV after they arrived at her dad and mom’ dwelling in Dighton. 11:25 a.m. From McCabe residence, Proctor went to Good Samaritan Hospital the place he was instructed Learn had been launched a number of hours earlier. He additionally noticed O’Keefe’s physique in ER, seen abrasions on his proper arm, swollen eyes, blood on again of head. 11:20 a.m. Proctor says Firefighter Flematti instructed him extra about O’Keefe’s accidents, together with that he had a ten% likelihood of survival. So he determined to reply. Shoveled out his driveway and went to Canton PD about 10 a.m. to satisfy Sgt. Bukhenik. 11:17 a.m. Proctor says he was initially instructed O’Keefe’s demise may be a “potential medical state of affairs,” so he contacted Sgt. Lank at Canton police to seek out out extra. 11:15 a.m. Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor takes stand10:40 a.m. Barros says he noticed “some injury” to proper rear taillight of Learn’s SUV. Says taillight was “cracked with a chunk lacking.” Says he additionally noticed a dent close to the taillight. 10:29 a.m. Prosecution calls Nicholas Barros, a sergeant with Dighton Police Department10:20 a.m. Bukhenik says he initially instructed health worker’s workplace this may be a home state of affairs primarily based on information he’d acquired from first responders that Learn stated she’d hit him and {that a} cocktail glass was discovered at scene. 10:15 a.m. Lally is making the purpose that this video was shot after the video of the SUV in O’Keefe’s driveway and after the video at Learn’s dad and mom’ dwelling in Dighton. 10:10 a.m. Prosecutor Adam Lally is now enjoying the uninverted video of the SUV within the storage. Asks Bukhenik to note the snow falling from driver’s door. Asks him if he seen any snow falling for O’Keefe’s car when Learn’s SUV got here shut in driveway.10 a.m. Jackson performs video from one other digicam within the Canton police storage. Jackson says the SUV “simply seems.” Says 42 minutes are lacking. Says portion of the video displaying individual close to taillight is lacking. 9:55 a.m. Court docket resumes. Jury returns. Jackson performs un-inverted video of the SUV. Bukhenik will get up to have a look at the timestamp close to the underside of the display.9:30 a.m. Jackson asks if Bukhenik notices that some individuals seem out of nowhere within the video. Bukhenik says the video is triggered by movement. “It isn’t lacking. It simply wasn’t recorded,” Bukhenik says. 9:20 a.m. Jackson: You didn’t point out that this video is inverted, did you? Bukhenik: It didn’t come up. 9:18 a.m. Jackson is asking the place Tpr. Michael Proctor seems within the video. Bukhenik says he can’t be positive the place Proctor is. 9:15 a.m. Sgt. Yuriy Bukhenik returns to the stand. Protection lawyer Alan Jackson resumes cross-examination concerning the video of Learn’s SUV on the Canton Police Division. Bukhenik confirms the individual seen slipping in entrance of the car is the tow truck driver. 9:10 a.m. State Police Sgt. Yuri Bukhenick returns to face and is questioned about video of Learn’s SUV inside Canton police station8:50 a.m. Decide says this appears like “at the very least a day of voir dire” to be taught extra about these protection witnesses. The choose reminds attorneys she instructed the jury they’d possible get case by final week of June. Yannetti says listening to will take “about two hours”. 8:45 a.m. Assistant District Lawyer Laura McLaughlin says that is trial by ambush. 8:45 a.m. The prosecution needs to exclude, Dr. Marie Russell, an emergency drugs specialist in Los Angeles, as a result of it didn’t be taught concerning the plan to have her testify till week six of the trial. 8:36 a.m. Good morning. Day 22 of testimony. We’re beginning early at the moment with a prosecution movement to exclude a protection witness. Then we’ll hear extra cross-examination of Sgt. Yuriy Bukhenik. We may hear extra concerning the “mirrored” video of Learn’s SUV. Observe posts from reporter David BienickRelated hyperlinks:Recap of testimony, proof from every day of the case Proof slideshowWhat to know concerning the case:Karen Learn, 44, of Mansfield, is accused of second-degree homicide and different expenses. The prosecution says she hit her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, together with her car exterior of a house in Canton throughout a snowstorm on Jan. 29, 2022, following an evening of consuming. She returned hours later to seek out him in a snowbank.Learn has pleaded not responsible.Learn and her protection staff declare she is the sufferer of a cover-up and plan to current a third-party perpetrator protection. They declare O’Keefe was crushed inside the house, bitten by a canine, after which left exterior.In pretrial motions, prosecutors revealed the existence of textual content messages they stated steered a “romantic entanglement” with a good friend who was current at areas Learn and O’Keefe visited on the evening of the incident. Different paperwork have additionally steered hassle within the relationship between Learn and O’Keefe.Learn can also be accused of getting frequent contact with a controversial blogger generally known as “Turtleboy,” Aiden Kearney, who now faces expenses in associated circumstances.Opening statements had been delivered on April 29.The trial is anticipated to final 6-8 weeks.Case proof slideshow: Prosecutors try to indicate that Learn’s alleged actions exterior 34 Fairview Highway had been intentional. Learn’s legal professionals have alleged there was a cover-up involving members of a number of regulation enforcement companies. They are saying O’Keefe was crushed by another person inside the house, bitten by a canine after which left exterior.The protection, which has been allowed to current what is known as third-party perpetrator proof, argues that investigators centered on Learn as a result of she was a “handy outsider” who saved them from having to think about different suspects. These they’ve implicated embrace Brian Albert, who owned the house in Canton the place O’Keefe died, and Brian Higgins, an ATF agent who was there that evening.Higgins testified a couple of “romantic” encounter and a collection of textual content messages he exchanged with Learn. In these flirty messages, Learn instructed him that O’Keefe had “connected” with one other lady throughout a trip. The protection is attempting to persuade the jury that O’Keefe was crushed and steered that Colin Albert, nephew of the household that owned the house on Fairview Highway, had been in a combat. Albert stated a hand harm got here when he fell in a driveway and that he by no means noticed O’Keefe in the course of the celebration of his cousin’s birthday on the evening in query.He additionally confirmed on cross-examination that he has recognized the lead state police investigator on this case, Trooper Michael Proctor, since he was a toddler. A former Massachusetts police toxicologist, Nicholas Roberts, testified that Learn’s blood alcohol content material at 9 a.m. was between .078% and .083%, proper across the authorized restrict for intoxication in Massachusetts. Primarily based on a police report that steered her final drink was at 12:45 a.m., her peak blood alcohol stage would have been between .135% and .292%, he stated.O’Keefe had been elevating his niece and nephew, and so they instructed jurors that they heard frequent arguments between him and Learn. Each of the youngsters described an incident through which O’Keefe requested Learn to go away the home and he or she refused.The trial’s first few days detailed the futile efforts of first responders to save lots of O’Keefe. They discovered him face up after they arrived simply earlier than daybreak on Jan. 29. He was pronounced useless on the hospital, and an post-mortem later discovered he died of hypothermia and blunt power trauma. A number of of the primary responders stated they heard Learn make statements, together with, “I hit him,” after O’Keefe was discovered. Protection attorneys confronted a number of of these witnesses by asking why these alleged remarks weren’t included in official stories.Officers additionally testified about uncommon procedures used in the course of the investigation, together with the choice to gather bloody snow in pink plastic cups and clearing snow from the crime scene.

Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor was made to learn a collection of textual content messages that he despatched about homicide suspect Karen Learn, who’s accused of hitting John O’Keefe, her boyfriend, with an SUV and leaving him to die in a snowstorm.

Proctor described his messages as “very regrettable.”

Learn, 44, of Mansfield, has pleaded not responsible to second-degree homicide and different expenses. The prosecution says she hit O’Keefe together with her black SUV exterior of a house at 34 Fairview Highway in Canton throughout a snowstorm on Jan. 29, 2022, following an evening of consuming. Her protection plans to argue that another person is accountable for killing O’Keefe.

Proctor, a lead investigator within the case, was questioned about messages he shared with a gaggle of mates. After studying one of many messages, through which he known as Learn a “whack job” and an expletive, he apologized to the jury for his “unprofessional” feedback.

In a single message despatched to co-workers and supervisors whereas looking Learn’s telephone, Proctor wrote, “no nudes thus far.” Jackson requested if Proctor had ever seemed for bare photos of male suspects. Proctor stated “jokes” have no bearing on the info and integrity of the case.

At occasions, Proctor’s voice was barely audible as he learn messages that he described as “juvenile” and “unprofessional.” He testified, nevertheless, that the messages didn’t affect his investigation.

Earlier within the day, Proctor’s testimony centered on O’Keefe’s physique and bodily proof from the case. He testified about seeing O’Keefe’s physique within the emergency room and seen abrasions on his proper arm, swollen eyes and blood on the again of his head. He and Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Yuri Bukhenick then traveled to Learn’s dad and mom’ dwelling in Dighton, the place he noticed Learn’s car.

“We noticed Miss Learn’s Lexus parked within the driveway,” Proctor stated. “The entrance of it was going through one of many storage doorways. That is the place we noticed a damaged taillight on the fitting of the car.”

Proctor stated the car was then towed to the Canton Police Division.

“Sgt. Bukhenick and I by no means touched any a part of that car,” Proctor stated.

Bukhenick was additionally questioned Monday once more concerning the “mirrored” video that exhibits Learn’s SUV contained in the storage of the Canton Police Division. Protection lawyer Alan Jackson requested Bukhenick to establish an individual who seemed to be behind the car.

“They’re in a frozen body. I can inform there are two people again there,” Bukhenick, nevertheless, stated he couldn’t establish Proctor as one of many individuals.

Bukhenick stated when he was questioned by the prosecution concerning the video, he didn’t point out to the jury that it was inverted.

“It is an correct depiction of the occasions happening,” Bukhenick stated.

When requested about what seemed to be a “soar” within the footage, Bukhenick defined that the recording is triggered by movement, there aren’t any “lacking” elements and the video was not manipulated.

“The video doesn’t document as a result of it’s not triggered to document,” Bukhenick stated.

Nicholas Barros, a sergeant with the Dighton Police Division, testified that he accompanied state police to the residence of Learn’s dad and mom, the place Learn’s automobile was parked.

“We noticed a black Lexus SUV within the driveway,” Barros stated. “I noticed that there was some injury to the fitting rear taillight.”

Barros stated the taillight was “cracked with a chunk lacking,” and there was “a dent” on the passenger facet of the SUV close to the taillight.


Dwell updates:

  • 3:56 p.m. Court docket ends for the day. Cross-examination of Proctor will resume on Wednesday.
  • 3:51 p.m. Proctor acknowledges that none of his coworkers or supervisors known as him out for his language.
  • 3:50 p.m. In a single message to coworkers and supervisors whereas looking Learn’s telephone, Proctor wrote “no nudes thus far.” Jackson asks if he is ever seemed for bare photos of male suspects. Proctor says “jokes” have no bearing on info and integrity of the case.
  • 3:47 p.m. Jackson asks how Proctor feels about Yannetti proper now pointing to him within the courtroom. Proctor: “Nonetheless do not look after him.”
  • 3:46 p.m. Jackson exhibits an image of Yannetti {that a} co-worker despatched him. Proctor says he responded, “I am going via his retarded shopper’s telephone.” Additionally stated of Yannetti, “I hate that man. I really hate that man.”
  • 3:37 p.m. Protection lawyer Alan Jackson begins cross-examining Proctor by asking if he was “bragging” to five co-workers about looking via Learn’s cellular phone. Proctor says he referred to Learn as “retarded.”
  • 3:33 p.m. Lally concludes about 3.5 hours of direct questioning of Proctor.
  • 3:28 p.m. Proctor says whereas looking the telephone, he got here throughout messaged Learn exchanged together with her lawyer David Yannetti. Says he needed to briefly “freeze” search and switch telephone over to an impartial staff to take away these messages.
  • 3:26 p.m. Proctor is speaking about analyzing Learn’s cellular phone. On the protection, Learn immediately has a stunned look on her face. She says one thing to her attorneys.
  • 3:20 p.m. One other textual content message from Proctor to a co-worker: “Do you want ladies who s— themselves?” Proctor says “once more a really regrettable remark I made about Ms. Learn’s medical situation.” (She has M.S.)
  • 3:10 p.m. In one other message with DiCiccio concerning the health worker not figuring out O’Keefe’s explanation for demise, Proctor says he once more referred to Learn as a “whack job.”
  • 3:06 p.m. Proctor is now studying textual content messages he shared with a co-worker, Tpr David DiCicco. Says they had been “busting one another chops” with regard to a convention name with the health worker and the post-mortem. Calls it a “typical joke.”
  • 3:01 p.m. Proctor says regardless of his private feedback, “the compelling proof pointed proper at” Learn.
  • 2:57 p.m. Proctor’s voice will get softer as he reads the texts. He’s clearly embarrassed. The courtroom officers sign the choose the jury cannot hear him. The choose tells him to talk up.
  • 2:54 p.m. Lally arms Proctor a gaggle of messages he exchanged together with his spouse Elizabeth. In a single message, he makes use of a disparaging time period to discuss with Learn. He once more turns to jury and expresses remorse.
  • 2:50 p.m. Proctor reads a textual content message through which his sister Courtney says the Alberts wish to get him a present. Says he by no means acquired a present from them.
  • 2:43 p.m. Proctor’s voice is barely audible as he reads extra textual content messages about Learn. A courtroom officer alerts to the choose he cannot hear. Proctor says the “juvenile, unprofessional” didn’t affect the investigation.
  • 2:41 p.m. Proctor turns to the jury and says these feedback are unprofessional, he regrets them and shouldn’t have made them.
  • 2:40 p.m. Proctor reads one of many texts he wrote: “From all accounts, he did not do something unsuitable. She’s a whack job, a c—.”
  • 2:31 p.m. Proctor reads textual content message from good friend saying, “Guess the proprietor of the house will obtain some s—.” Proctor replied: “Nope, house owner is a Boston cop, too.”
  • 2:08 p.m. Lally resumes questioning of Proctor. He is asking about textual content messages Proctor shared with a gaggle of mates. One requested him about “the title of that BPD cop.” He later responded “John O’Keefe” and tells his good friend that O’Keefe took custody of his sister’s youngsters.
  • 2:04 p.m. Trial pauses for lunch break.
  • 12:55 p.m. Proctor says he knew Brian and Julie Albert and their son Colin earlier than interviewing them. Says he is aware of them via his sister and that he and his spouse and Julie babysit.
  • 12:45 p.m. Proctor removes taillight fragments from proof bag and exhibits them to the jury.
  • 12:30 p.m. Lally exhibits image of O’Keefe’s Chevy Traverse. Proctor factors to bumper to indicate the place it might need are available in contact with Learn’s Lexus. Protection objects. Sidebar.
  • 12:20 p.m. Proctor says no snow seems to fall off O’Keefe’s car as Learn’s SUV will get shut and no items of pink plastic seem on the snow as Learn pulls away. (The protection says that is the second Learn’s taillight was cracked.)
  • 12:15 p.m. Proctor says after visiting crime scene, they went to O’Keefe’s dwelling to have a look at his car. Says they’d seen Ring digicam video of Learn’s SUV coming near it.
  • 12:10 p.m. Proctor says he by no means went to 34 Fairview Rd alone. Says on Feb. 3, they discovered black consuming straw, O’Keefe’s cap “deep beneath the snow”, items of plastic.
  • 12 p.m. Proctor says after they executed the search warrant on Learn’s SUV on 2/1/22 at Canton PD, it was in the identical situation as he’d seen in on 1/29/22 in Dighton.
  • 11:55 a.m. Proctor says the proof they recovered on 1/29/22 was positioned in non permanent storage space at Canton PD as a result of they did not have entry to everlasting storage locker.
  • 11:45 a.m. “Sgt. Bukhenik and I by no means touched any a part of that car,” Proctor says concerning the SUV when it was on the Canton Police Dept.
  • 11:37 a.m. Proctor says he seen “damaged” taillight on Learn’s SUV after they arrived at her dad and mom’ dwelling in Dighton.
  • 11:25 a.m. From McCabe residence, Proctor went to Good Samaritan Hospital the place he was instructed Learn had been launched a number of hours earlier. He additionally noticed O’Keefe’s physique in ER, seen abrasions on his proper arm, swollen eyes, blood on again of head.
  • 11:20 a.m. Proctor says Firefighter Flematti instructed him extra about O’Keefe’s accidents, together with that he had a ten% likelihood of survival. So he determined to reply. Shoveled out his driveway and went to Canton PD about 10 a.m. to satisfy Sgt. Bukhenik.
  • 11:17 a.m. Proctor says he was initially instructed O’Keefe’s demise may be a “potential medical state of affairs,” so he contacted Sgt. Lank at Canton police to seek out out extra.
  • 11:15 a.m. Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor takes stand
  • 10:40 a.m. Barros says he noticed “some injury” to proper rear taillight of Learn’s SUV. Says taillight was “cracked with a chunk lacking.” Says he additionally noticed a dent close to the taillight.
  • 10:29 a.m. Prosecution calls Nicholas Barros, a sergeant with Dighton Police Division
  • 10:20 a.m. Bukhenik says he initially instructed health worker’s workplace this may be a home state of affairs primarily based on information he’d acquired from first responders that Learn stated she’d hit him and {that a} cocktail glass was discovered at scene.
  • 10:15 a.m. Lally is making the purpose that this video was shot after the video of the SUV in O’Keefe’s driveway and after the video at Learn’s dad and mom’ dwelling in Dighton.
  • 10:10 a.m. Prosecutor Adam Lally is now enjoying the uninverted video of the SUV within the storage. Asks Bukhenik to note the snow falling from driver’s door. Asks him if he seen any snow falling for O’Keefe’s car when Learn’s SUV got here shut in driveway.
  • 10 a.m. Jackson performs video from one other digicam within the Canton police storage. Jackson says the SUV “simply seems.” Says 42 minutes are lacking. Says portion of the video displaying individual close to taillight is lacking.
  • 9:55 a.m. Court docket resumes. Jury returns. Jackson performs un-inverted video of the SUV. Bukhenik will get up to have a look at the timestamp close to the underside of the display.
  • 9:30 a.m. Jackson asks if Bukhenik notices that some individuals seem out of nowhere within the video. Bukhenik says the video is triggered by movement. “It isn’t lacking. It simply wasn’t recorded,” Bukhenik says.
  • 9:20 a.m. Jackson: You didn’t point out that this video is inverted, did you? Bukhenik: It didn’t come up.
  • 9:18 a.m. Jackson is asking the place Tpr. Michael Proctor seems within the video. Bukhenik says he can’t be positive the place Proctor is.
  • 9:15 a.m. Sgt. Yuriy Bukhenik returns to the stand. Protection lawyer Alan Jackson resumes cross-examination concerning the video of Learn’s SUV on the Canton Police Division. Bukhenik confirms the individual seen slipping in entrance of the car is the tow truck driver.
  • 9:10 a.m. State Police Sgt. Yuri Bukhenick returns to face and is questioned about video of Learn’s SUV inside Canton police station
  • 8:50 a.m. Decide says this appears like “at the very least a day of voir dire” to be taught extra about these protection witnesses. The choose reminds attorneys she instructed the jury they’d possible get case by final week of June. Yannetti says listening to will take “about two hours”.
  • 8:45 a.m. Assistant District Lawyer Laura McLaughlin says that is trial by ambush.
  • 8:45 a.m. The prosecution needs to exclude, Dr. Marie Russell, an emergency drugs specialist in Los Angeles, as a result of it didn’t be taught concerning the plan to have her testify till week six of the trial.
  • 8:36 a.m. Good morning. Day 22 of testimony. We’re beginning early at the moment with a prosecution movement to exclude a protection witness. Then we’ll hear extra cross-examination of Sgt. Yuriy Bukhenik. We may hear extra concerning the “mirrored” video of Learn’s SUV.
  • Follow posts from reporter David Bienick

Associated hyperlinks:

What to know concerning the case:

  • Karen Learn, 44, of Mansfield, is accused of second-degree homicide and different expenses. The prosecution says she hit her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, together with her car exterior of a house in Canton throughout a snowstorm on Jan. 29, 2022, following an evening of consuming. She returned hours later to seek out him in a snowbank.
  • Learn has pleaded not responsible.
  • Learn and her protection staff declare she is the sufferer of a cover-up and plan to current a third-party perpetrator protection. They declare O’Keefe was crushed inside the house, bitten by a canine, after which left exterior.
  • In pretrial motions, prosecutors revealed the existence of textual content messages they stated steered a “romantic entanglement” with a good friend who was current at areas Learn and O’Keefe visited on the evening of the incident. Different paperwork have additionally steered hassle within the relationship between Learn and O’Keefe.
  • Learn can also be accused of getting frequent contact with a controversial blogger generally known as “Turtleboy,” Aiden Kearney, who now faces expenses in associated circumstances.
  • Opening statements had been delivered on April 29.
  • The trial is anticipated to final 6-8 weeks.

Case proof slideshow:


Prosecutors try to indicate that Learn’s alleged actions exterior 34 Fairview Highway had been intentional. Learn’s legal professionals have alleged there was a cover-up involving members of a number of regulation enforcement companies. They are saying O’Keefe was crushed by another person inside the house, bitten by a canine after which left exterior.

The protection, which has been allowed to current what is known as third-party perpetrator proof, argues that investigators centered on Learn as a result of she was a “handy outsider” who saved them from having to think about different suspects. These they’ve implicated embrace Brian Albert, who owned the house in Canton the place O’Keefe died, and Brian Higgins, an ATF agent who was there that evening.

Higgins testified a couple of “romantic” encounter and a collection of textual content messages he exchanged with Learn. In these flirty messages, Learn instructed him that O’Keefe had “connected” with one other lady throughout a trip.

AP Picture/Charles Krupa, Pool

Witness Brian Higgins solutions a query from prosecutor Adam Lally.

Hearst Owned

Officer John O’Keefe

The protection is attempting to persuade the jury that O’Keefe was crushed and steered that Colin Albert, nephew of the household that owned the house on Fairview Highway, had been in a combat. Albert stated a hand harm got here when he fell in a driveway and that he by no means noticed O’Keefe in the course of the celebration of his cousin’s birthday on the evening in query.

He additionally confirmed on cross-examination that he has recognized the lead state police investigator on this case, Trooper Michael Proctor, since he was a toddler.

Greg Derr

Witness Colin Albert takes the stand.

A former Massachusetts police toxicologist, Nicholas Roberts, testified that Learn’s blood alcohol content material at 9 a.m. was between .078% and .083%, proper across the authorized restrict for intoxication in Massachusetts. Primarily based on a police report that steered her final drink was at 12:45 a.m., her peak blood alcohol stage would have been between .135% and .292%, he stated.

O’Keefe had been elevating his niece and nephew, and so they instructed jurors that they heard frequent arguments between him and Learn. Each of the youngsters described an incident through which O’Keefe requested Learn to go away the home and he or she refused.

The trial’s first few days detailed the futile efforts of first responders to save lots of O’Keefe. They discovered him face up after they arrived simply earlier than daybreak on Jan. 29. He was pronounced useless on the hospital, and an post-mortem later discovered he died of hypothermia and blunt power trauma.

A number of of the primary responders stated they heard Learn make statements, together with, “I hit him,” after O’Keefe was discovered. Protection attorneys confronted a number of of these witnesses by asking why these alleged remarks weren’t included in official stories.

Officers additionally testified about uncommon procedures used in the course of the investigation, together with the choice to gather bloody snow in pink plastic cups and clearing snow from the crime scene.

Karen Read murder trial highlights Trooper Michael Proctor’s “regrettable” text messages

DEDHAM – Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator within the high-profile Karen Learn homicide trial, took the stand on Monday. Throughout his testimony, Proctor learn a sequence of what he described as “unprofessional and regrettable” textual content messages he despatched about Learn.

Monday’s testimony ended for the day with Proctor nonetheless on the stand for cross-examination.

Learn’s protection attorneys accuse Proctor of planting proof to assist cowl up for pals who’re witnesses within the case. 

Learn is accused of hitting and killing her Boston police officer boyfriend John O’Keefe along with her SUV after an evening of consuming. O’Keefe’s physique was discovered within the snow exterior Brian Albert’s dwelling at 34 Fairview Highway in Canton the morning of January 29, 2022. 

Learn’s lead attorneys, Alan Jackson and David Yannetti, have argued that she is the sufferer of a coverup involving legislation enforcement and different witnesses within the case. They argue that O’Keefe may have been killed throughout a struggle inside Albert’s dwelling, then introduced exterior.

Michael Proctor reads “unprofessional and regrettable” textual content messages

Proctor first took the stand Monday round 11 a.m. after the jury’s morning recess.  

Proctor learn a sequence of what he described as “unprofessional and regrettable” messages about Learn. The texts had been delivered to gentle as a part of the federal investigation into the dealing with of the case.

“From all accounts [O’Keefe] did not do something improper. She’s a whackjob [expletive],” Proctor mentioned in a single textual content message. In one other message Proctor informed a buddy Learn “waffled” O’Keefe.

Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor takes the stand to testify, Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Tremendous Court docket, in Dedham, Mass., throughout the trial for Karen Learn.

Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe through AP


Prosecutor Adam Lally requested Proctor concerning the messages.

“These juvenile, unprofessional feedback have zero impression on the details and the proof and the integrity of this investigation,” Proctor testified. “These are unprofessional feedback, however they completely didn’t detract from the integrity of the investigation or the details and proof of it.”

In one other textual content message, after Learn is indicted by a grand jury, Proctor messages his spouse that he’s “ready to lock whackjob up.”

Proctor testified that the textual content messages, whereas unprofessional, had been made as a result of he was assured within the proof that had been found.

“Based mostly on the day’s investigation, it was clear that Ms. Learn had struck Mr. O’Keefe along with her automobile,” Proctor mentioned.

Proctor learn a textual content message trade with two fellow Massachusetts State Police troopers on June 9, 2022. That was the day whereas being booked on the state police barracks, Learn was heard on physique worn digital camera making allegations that the Alberts had been concerned in framing her.

“[Read] mentioned the Alberts beat the s— out of [O’Keefe]. She’s gross. F— her. B—-,” Proctor messaged his colleagues. 

Lally accomplished direct questioning round 3:30 p.m.

Alan Jackson cross-examines Trooper Michael Proctor

Protection legal professional Alan Jackson started his cross-examination by referencing textual content messages Proctor despatched about Learn’s different lead legal professional David Yannetti. Proctor mentioned “I hate that man. I actually hate that man.”

He then mentioned he was going by means of Learn’s cellphone, which had been seized as a part of the investigation. Proctor referred to Learn as a derogatory phrase for an individual with disabilities. The trooper responded to Jackson that it was “poor language.”

“Poor language is one solution to put it. Utterly offensive is one other solution to put it, proper?” Jackson responded, prompting an objection that was sustained.

Later, Proctor learn a textual content message that he despatched to his bosses about going by means of the cellphone.

“No nudes to date,” Proctor messaged.

Jackson requested Proctor if he was looking out the cellphone for nude images. Proctor mentioned he was not and it was a “poor alternative of phrases.”

Jackson additionally requested Proctor if he was biased early within the investigation.

“In different phrases Trooper Proctor, you do not get to choose a suspect, after which attempt to discover proof to help your alternative, proper?” Jackson requested, prompting Proctor to say that was appropriate.

“However on this case, that is precisely what you probably did is not it?” Jackson requested.

“Completely not,” Proctor mentioned. That was the ultimate query and reply earlier than the jury was dismissed for the day.

Learn reacts to Proctor’s textual content messages

Outdoors courtroom Monday, WBZ-TV’s Kristina Rex requested Learn what it felt like to listen to Trooper Proctor’s textual content messages about her. 

“I’ve executed nothing improper. He has,” Learn mentioned. “You would possibly wish to ask him how he feels listening to that learn in open courtroom. I’m not ashamed or embarrassed.” 

Trooper Proctor’s ties to the Albert household

Earlier within the day, Lally requested Proctor about his relationship with members of the Albert household. 

Brian Albert is a retired Boston police officer who hosted an after-party the place O’Keefe and Learn had been headed to after consuming on the Waterfall Bar and Grille in Canton. Witnesses have testified that O’Keefe by no means went inside the house, however the protection claims he went inside and was killed throughout a struggle.

Brian Albert’s brother is Christopher Albert. He’s a present member of the Canton Board of Selectmen.

Earlier within the trial, Christopher Albert’s spouse Julie was on the stand. On cross-examination, Julie Albert was requested about her relationship with Courtney Proctor, the trooper’s sister. 

“I might classify it as acquaintances,” Trooper Proctor mentioned on Monday below direct questioning about his relationship with Christopher and Julie Albert.  

The protection says Julie Albert known as Courtney Proctor 67 occasions over the course of a number of months after O’Keefe’s demise, together with on the day of Learn’s arrest.

Trooper Proctor estimated that over the course of about 10 years, he was on the similar capabilities as members of the Albert household round a half dozen occasions.

“Zero. Completely zero impression on this investigation,” he mentioned of his relationships with the Albert household. 

Trooper Michael Proctor particulars investigation

Proctor, who’s at the moment below investigation by Massachusetts State Police, denies any wrongdoing. He stays on full responsibility throughout the investigation.  

Lally started by questioning Proctor concerning the day he took over as lead investigator within the case. 

The trooper mentioned the very first thing he seen was O’Keefe had cuts on his proper arm, each eyes had been swollen and bruised, and he had a minimize on his proper nostril. Proctor mentioned O’Keefe additionally had a smaller minimize above his left eye.

He mentioned O’Keefe was solely carrying one shoe, which might typically be an indication of a possible automobile strike.

At one level, Lally had Proctor maintain up the housing space of Learn’s Lexus SUV taillight. Proctor was additionally requested to take away damaged taillight items from an proof bag and show them for jurors.

Harm to Karen Learn’s SUV

Dighton police officer Nicholas Barros took the stand previous to Proctor for lower than quarter-hour. He was on scene when Learn’s automobile was towed from her dad and mom’ dwelling.

The automobile was towed the afternoon of January 29, 2022, a number of hours after O’Keefe’s physique was discovered. Prosecutors tried to point out that the SUV was broken earlier than police had entry to it.

“I noticed that there was some injury to the best rear taillight,” Barros testified.

He mentioned the taillight was cracked, a chunk was lacking, however it was not utterly broken. As well as, he mentioned there was a dent “together with the taillight” in the identical space.

Protection attorneys didn’t have any questions for Barros. 

Inverted video from Canton Police Division sallyport

Earlier than Barros was known as as a witness, Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Yuriy Bukhenik accomplished his testimony. He was Proctor’s supervisor within the investigation.

The cross-examination of Bukhenik left off Thursday with questions on video of Learn’s SUV contained in the Canton Police Division sallyport. Protection attorneys had been within the strategy of asking Bukhenik about why the video seems to be mirrored, one thing that was not famous throughout direct questioning.  

Jackson continued the road of questioning on Monday. 

“Would you agree that this video is not a real and correct depiction of what you noticed that night time?” Jackson requested Bukhenik. “Sure it’s, it is simply mirrored,” Bukhenik replied.

Later Monday morning, Jackson performed a model of the sallyport video that corrects the angle.

When Jackson concluded his cross-examination, Lally requested Bukhenik if any adjustments had been made to the video from the time he obtained it to the time it was performed in courtroom.

“There was no manipulation of the video between once we obtained it and when it was performed right here,” Bukhenik mentioned.

Lally additionally famous that the sallyport video was recorded after a number of different movies that the prosecution has argued present Learn’s taillight was already damaged.

The prosecutor requested Bukhenik did he or Proctor “go close to, contact, or manipulate” Learn’s taillight.

“We completely didn’t,” Bukhenik mentioned.

Proctor testified the identical later within the day, saying “Sgt. Bukhenik and I by no means touched any a part of that automobile.”

Bukhenik accomplished his testimony after lower than two hours on Monday.  

A photograph of Karen Learn’s Lexus SUV is proven throughout her trial at Norfolk Superior Court docket in Dedham, Mass. on Wednesday June 5, 2024.

Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger through AP, Pool


Tense trade with Decide Beverly Cannone

Earlier within the day there have been heated arguments with out jurors current over a potential witness who is predicted to testify that John O’Keefe’s accidents are per a canine assault.   

Decide Beverly Cannone heard arguments from each side about potential upcoming testimony, and had a tense trade with Yannetti. The movement listening to started earlier than jurors entered the room.

The prosecution filed a movement Thursday to exclude the testimony of protection witness Dr. Marie Russell. In addition they mentioned the protection has not supplied needed data from different specialists anticipated to take the stand.

Learn’s attorneys have mentioned for months that scratches on O’Keefe’s arm may have been brought on by Brian Albert’s canine Chloe inside 34 Fairview Highway throughout a struggle.

The state says they had been simply notified that Russell could be known as as a witness on Could 21 and they don’t have enough time to arrange. 

As Yannetti made his arguments, Cannone interjected and requested him to stay to arguments surrounding the movement. somewhat than general points with the trial.

“That is the hyperbole I do not want. Are you able to please get to the purpose,” Cannone informed Yannetti.

Yannetti mentioned the protection plans to name a number of witnesses who they haven’t had the chance to interview themselves as a result of they’re specialists employed by the federal authorities throughout an investigation into legislation enforcement’s dealing with of the Learn case.

Cannone mentioned there shall be voir dires of every witness this week. Which means the witnesses shall be questioned by each side with out the jury current.

The choose additionally ordered the protection to supply a abstract of 1 knowledgeable’s opinion by the tip of the day Tuesday.

Throughout a pretrial listening to, Karen Learn’s protection legal professional Alan Jackson exhibits scratches on John O’Keefe’s arm that he says may have been induced throughout a canine assault.

CBS Boston


What occurred final week within the Karen Learn homicide trial?

A lot of the testimony final week centered on damaged taillight items that had been discovered on the scene of O’Keefe’s demise, in addition to Learn’s alcohol consumption within the hours earlier than O’Keefe died.

Later within the week, Bukhenik took the stand. He labored carefully with him throughout the investigation. 

Who’s Karen Learn?

A forty five-year-old from Mansfield, Massachusetts, Learn is charged with second-degree homicide, manslaughter whereas working inebriated, and leaving the scene of non-public harm and demise.  

Learn is accused of hitting and killing O’Keefe, who she was courting on the time, along with her SUV. In response to prior witnesses, the couple had what was described as a deteriorating relationship. 

Learn has pleaded not responsible to all fees.

Karen Learn inside Norfolk Superior Court docket on June 10, 2024.

CBS Boston


What is the schedule for the Karen Learn homicide trial this week?

Decide Beverly Cannone has adjusted the trial schedule in an effort to hurry up proceedings. Jury choice within the case started on April 16, and dozens of witnesses have taken the stand since testimony started on April 29.

The prosecution is at the moment calling witnesses from its record. Learn’s protection attorneys haven’t but begun to name witnesses.  

Full days of testimony are deliberate this week for Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with a break day scheduled for Tuesday.

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