The retrial of Karen Read, charged with second-degree murder in the death of Boston police officer John O’Keefe, spotlighted the conduct of former Massachusetts state trooper Michael Proctor, who was fired due to misconduct allegations. Defense lawyers extensively questioned Proctor’s supervisor, Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik, who acknowledged his own disciplinary actions related to Proctor. He insisted that Proctor conducted the investigation with “honor and integrity,” despite biases being present.
Read, 45, is accused of fatally hitting O’Keefe with her SUV after a heated argument, then leaving him for dead outside a retired police sergeant’s home. The first trial ended with a hung jury after nine weeks, leading to this retrial. O’Keefe’s death was attributed to hypothermia and blunt force trauma, which the defense claims was caused by a conspiracy to frame Read, alleging O’Keefe was beaten and dragged outside.
Proctor, dismissed for sending derogatory texts about Read and sharing confidential case details, has not testified in the retrial. Bukhenik confirmed that although he received offensive messages about Read, he did not view them until later. He was subsequently disciplined for his oversight of Proctor, losing vacation days but remains a homicide investigator.
During questioning, Bukhenik remarked that Proctor wasn’t the primary contributor to the case’s investigation and refuted claims that his involvement tainted the outcome. The trial continues amidst accusations of evidence manipulation and claims of a biased investigation, as Read maintains her innocence against the backdrop of complex evidence and procedural controversies.
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