Livestream: Julie Albert returns to the stand in Karen Read murder trial

Crime

Julie Albert was grilled Thursday about her friendship with the sister of a Massachusetts State Police trooper who led the investigation into John O’Keefe’s death.

Livestream via NBC10 Boston.

On the stand:

• Nicole Albert, Norwood, MA

Previously:

10:15 a.m. update: Julie Albert testifies that she doesn’t remember whether she discussed the case with trooper’s sister

As he continued to cross-examine Julie Albert, defense attorney David Yannetti homed in on Albert’s conversations with Courtney Proctor around the time Karen Read was arraigned in February 2022. 

Jurors learned Thursday that Albert and Proctor — whose brother, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor, led the investigation into John O’Keefe’s death — called each other 67 times between Feb. 1, 2022, and Sept. 6, 2022. Albert said she didn’t remember whether she had discussed Read’s case with Courtney Proctor during any of their calls. 

“You told Courtney Proctor that you were nervous to speak to her brother, Trooper Proctor, about this case. Remember that?” Yannetti asked.

“I do not remember those exact words, no,” Albert replied. 

“But you were nervous to speak to him, correct?” Yannetti followed.

“Of course, I was nervous in general for a police interview,” Albert answered. “I don’t know someone who wouldn’t be.”

Yannetti asked whether Albert was worried one of the investigators might ask to speak to her son Colin about the events of Jan. 28 and 29, 2022. 

“Were you nervous that one of the investigators in this case might approach your son to ask him about his whereabouts?” he asked. 

“No,” Albert replied. 

Yannetti questioned Albert about whether she called Michael Proctor’s personal cell phone shortly after speaking to police. Albert said she didn’t recall. She later confirmed that Colin Albert was present at 34 Fairview Road after midnight on Jan. 29, 2022. 

“You were interviewed by Trooper Proctor, and it’s fair to say you never told him that Colin was there that night, correct?” Yannetti asked. 

“I don’t recall my interview,” Albert replied.

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The Karen Read murder trial resumes Friday with the continued cross-examination of Julie Albert, whose family faces intense scrutiny as Read’s lawyers seek to argue that others were responsible for killing John O’Keefe.

Albert and her husband, Chris, both took the stand Thursday to share their memories of drinking with Read, O’Keefe, and several others at the Waterfall Bar & Grille in Canton the night before O’Keefe died. While Julie and Chris Albert returned home after the bar, Chris’s brother Brian invited others back to his house at 34 Fairview Road for an afterparty. 

O’Keefe’s cold and lifeless body was found on Brian Albert’s lawn on Jan. 29, 2022. 

Prosecutors say Read, 44, struck O’Keefe — a Boston police officer and her boyfriend of two years — with her SUV while dropping him off at Albert’s house. Yet lawyers for the Mansfield woman argue instead that she was framed as part of a massive coverup meant to protect the Albert family. As part of their theory, the defense team has sought to implicate Brian Albert and Chris and Julie Albert’s son Colin, among others. 

While questioning Chris Albert Thursday, defense attorney David Yannetti sought to highlight the family’s connections in Canton, from the police department to town hall.

“You would agree that your entire family has deep roots in the town of Canton?” Yannetti asked.

“I guess,” Albert replied.

“You would agree with me that the Albert family is well-known in the town of Canton?” Yannetti continued. 

“We have a big family,” Albert answered. 

Focusing his later questions on the family’s dynamics, Yannettii asked, “And you’re protective of each other, correct?”

“Like most families,” Albert said. 

Thursday’s court session left off with Yannetti grilling Julie Albert about her relationship with Courtney Proctor, whose brother Michael Proctor is the Massachusetts State Police trooper who led the investigation into O’Keefe’s death.

Albert acknowledged that she’s close friends with Courtney Proctor but denied using her friend as an intermediary to communicate with Michael Proctor about the case. She also said she mostly texts Courtney Proctor and only speaks with her “very rarely” by phone, though Yannetti pointed to phone records indicating Albert and Courtney Proctor spoke by phone 67 times between Feb. 1, 2022, and Sept. 6, 2022.