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Karen Read trial autopsy expert details skull fractures in O’Keefe examination
A medical investigator testified that she might determine the reason for demise of John O’Keefe as a head harm and subcooling, however couldn’t decide whether or not it was homicide, by chance or one other means on Thursday in the course of the homicide course of Karen read Within the demise of her buddy 2022, a 46-year-old police officer in Boston.
Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello, a forensic pathologist on the Massachusetts workplace of the Chief Medical Examiner, carried out the post-mortem on O’Keefe January 31, 2022.
Whereas Scordi-Bello found that O’Keefe had died Head trauma and hypothermiaThe best way of demise – how he sustained these accidents – was indefinite.
The blunt affect on his head was the first reason behind demise, she testified, however hypothermia contributed. He had a deep lower and bruises towards his thoughts. As soon as she seemed it from the within, she discovered a number of cranium fractures and bleeding of the mind. And his physique temperature when he arrived within the hospital was 80.1 levels in comparison with a standard physique temperature of 98.6.
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Suspect Karen reads, proper, speaks for her lawyer, Alan Jackson, earlier than the beginning of her trial within the Norfolk Superior Courtroom Thursday, Might 15, 2025 in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photograph/Mark Stockwell, Pool)
She first mentioned the exterior investigation and mentioned that she had discovered comparable accidents as his face, head, hand, arm and knee that different witnesses, together with paramedics and police, have already described on the jury.
He had “superficial” scratches and lower wounds on his arm, which didn’t reveal penetrated or daring or muscle tissue, she testified.
Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello, the medical researcher who carried out the post-mortem about homicide sufferer John O (AP Photograph/Mark Stockwell, Pool)
She additionally carried out an inner investigation and checked out further accidents.
She discovered in the back of his cranium Multiple fractures From a lower on the best aspect of his head.
That harm is constant reverse And landed along with his head on the frozen soil, she testified throughout cross-hearing of defender Robert Alessi, who requested Scordi-Bello if O’Keefe ought to have stopped a round wound as an alternative of the linear present in post-mortem.
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Lawyer Robert Alessis ask Massachusetts State Police Forensic scientist Maureen Hartnett in the course of the trial towards Karen Learn in Norfolk Superior Courtroom Thursday 15 Might 2025 in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photograph/Mark Stockwell, Pool)
“There’s nothing inconsistent with this harm and a fall on somebody – on the again of the pinnacle – with a bone floor,” she testified.
“A fall backwards the place the individual has influenced the again of his head on a flat, frozen soil … Would you count on that form of crack from that form of fall?” Alessi adopted. “Not solely a basic fall backwards, however particularly a fall again the place the again of the pinnacle flat, frozen soil touches. Would you count on that?”
“I might,” mentioned Scordi-Bello. “Sure.”
Nonetheless, she additionally mentioned that she discovered no indicators of grass on the again of O’Keefe’s head.
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John O’Keefe depicted on an undated picture. O’Keefe died on January 29, 2022. His girlfriend, Karen Learn, was accused of hitting him along with her Lexus SUV and fleeing. (Courtesy of Karen Learn)
Alessi additionally grilled hair on the hypothermia pondering, asking whether or not inner accidents to the abdomen of O’Keefe and pancreas might have been attributable to components aside from the freezing temperatures.
She testified that it’s doable that his pancreas might have bleed from a tool that was used to assist paramedics with resuscitation efforts, however that will not have broken his abdomen. Nonetheless, she later testified that the abdomen ulcers might have been attributable to O’Keefe who drank alcohol with out taking his antacidal drugs.
On the time of his demise, the toxicology report didn’t discover any medicines or prescribed medicines in his system. He had a .21% blood alcohol content material. And he had prescribed an antacida to forestall abdomen ulcers.
Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello, the medical researcher who carried out the post-mortem about homicide sufferer John O (AP Photograph/Mark Stockwell, Pool)
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Even after a modified demise certificates was revealed, O’Keefe’s way of death remained indefinite. Scordi-Bello testified on Thursday that she is her findings with regard to the trigger, head trauma and hypothermia.
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After Decide Beverly Cannone had despatched jury members dwelling for the day, Alessi argued that new disclosures about testimonies from Aperture consultants, who carried out experiences for the prosecution, would jeopardize the “full protection” if that is allowed within the sport late.
The disclosure was dated on Might 8, however was obtained by the protection on 11 Might, he mentioned.
Karen Las listens to the testimony of Jennifer McCabe throughout Learn’s Homicide Trial in Norfolk Superior Courtroom in Dedham, Massachusetts, Wednesday 30 April 2025. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger by way of AP, Pool)
“I do not like to make use of hyperbolic phrases, however the phrase is used towards us – ambush, ambush, ambush,” mentioned Alessi. “If there may be ever an instance of an ambush, that is it.”
In a heated backwards and forwards, Brennan described disclosure as proof of a big variance between the interior clocks in Lexus SUV from Learn and the cell phone knowledge from John O’Keefe.
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Cannone has not introduced a call for setting the court docket for the day.
Learn is due on Friday at 9 am
She might face life in jail if she was convicted of probably the most severe indictment.