One of many key witnesses within the Karen Learn homicide retrial continued to testify for a 3rd day Friday on the occasions surrounding the dying of Learn’s boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, who was discovered unresponsive within the snow exterior a Massachusetts dwelling in 2022.
Prosecutors allege, following an evening of consuming in Canton, that Learn struck O’Keefe together with her Lexus SUV exterior of a get-together at one other officer’s dwelling and left him to die in a blizzard in January 2022. An post-mortem discovered that the 46-year-old died of hypothermia and blunt pressure accidents to the top.
After a jury was unable to reach a verdict within the preliminary homicide trial final 12 months, Learn is being retried on expenses together with second-degree homicide, vehicular manslaughter whereas working a car inebriated and leaving the scene of a collision inflicting dying. She has pleaded not responsible and maintains her innocence.
Karen Learn talks together with her attorneys throughout her trial at Norfolk Superior Courtroom in Dedham, Mass., Could 2, 2025.
Mark Jarret Chavous/The Enterprise through AP
Jennifer McCabe, a pal of O’Keefe who had testified throughout the first trial, took to the stand for the third day throughout the retrial on Friday in Dedham, Massachusetts.
In her intensive testimony this week, McCabe recounted that she had attended a social gathering at a bar the night time earlier than O’Keefe was discovered unresponsive within the snow with him, Learn and others. McCabe was additionally on the get-together following the gathering on the bar at a house belonging to her sister and brother-in-law, a Boston police officer.
McCabe and one other pal of O’Keefe’s — Kerry Roberts — another key trial witness who testified final week — drove with Learn by a blizzard to seek for O’Keefe after he by no means got here dwelling the night time earlier than, in the end discovering him exterior McCabe’s sister’s dwelling unresponsive.
McCabe testified Wednesday that whereas speaking to a primary responder on the scene, she heard Learn say, “I hit him, I hit him, I hit him.”
Protection lawyer Alan Jackson grilled McCabe on her recollection of the occasions of that day and within the days, weeks, months and years after, highlighting inconsistencies in her numerous testimonies and in opposition to police stories.
In a single occasion, Jackson famous that, after receiving a name from O’Keefe’s niece and Learn that O’Keefe was lacking, McCabe had referred to as her sister, although she didn’t point out that decision whereas testifying to the grand jury that indicted Learn on the manslaughter and homicide expenses.
“There’s nothing nefarious,” McCabe mentioned in regards to the name, testifying that her sister didn’t reply and she or he did not bear in mind calling her.
Requested by Jackson on her use of the phrase “nefarious,” McCabe mentioned, “There’s nothing about me calling my sister that’s nefarious, and I really feel such as you’re insinuating it is likely to be and it is not.”
Witness Jen McCabe takes the stand at Norfolk Superior Courtroom throughout the Karen Learn trial in Dedham, Mass., Could 2, 2025.
Mark Jarret Chavous/The Enterprise through AP
Jackson additionally questioned McCabe a few damaged taillight on Learn’s SUV. McCabe testified that Learn first talked about the damaged taillight within the early morning name with O’Keefe’s niece, although Jackson mentioned that wasn’t included in a police report. McCabe stood by her account.
When pressed on forgetting sure particulars from that point, McCabe mentioned, “There are particular issues I will always remember.”
Jackson’s cross-examination additionally centered on McCabe’s Google seek for how lengthy it takes to die within the chilly. She testified this week that Learn requested her to Google that after discovering O’Keefe within the snow, with the search made after 6 a.m. Although Jackson mentioned there’s proof it was made at 2:27 a.m. that morning, hours earlier than O’Keefe was discovered. McCabe denied she made the search at 2:27 a.m. and mentioned she searched it later that morning, upon Learn’s request.
Jackson additionally alleged {that a} group chat together with McCabe and a number of other members of the family confirmed they have been colluding within the days following the dying to coordinate their statements, which McCabe denied.
As he wrapped up his cross-examination, Jackson grilled McCabe on the moments after they discovered O’Keefe within the snow exterior her sister’s dwelling, and why she did not run in to examine on her sister and brother-in-law.
“The explanation you did not go inside the home is since you knew higher,” he charged.
McCabe mentioned she wasn’t anxious as a result of “one thing occurred on the entrance garden that had nothing to do with something inside that home.”
“You were not anxious about them in any respect since you knew what actually occurred, did not you?” he countered.
“At that second, I did not know that he was hit by a car and there was taillight discovered subsequent to him,” she responded.
Alan Jackson, protection lawyer for Karen Learn, questions witness Jen McCabe throughout Learn’s trial at Norfolk Superior Courtroom in Dedham, Mass., Friday, Could 2, 2025.
Mark Jarret Chavous/AP
On re-direct, particular prosecutor Hank Brennan questioned McCabe on her mind-set upon discovering O’Keefe.
“I used to be shocked, confused, nervous, scared, anxious — my pal was mendacity there on the bottom, I did not know what occurred,” she mentioned.
On the Google search, McCabe affirmed that Learn requested her to look how lengthy to die within the chilly, and that she had by no means tried that search earlier than then.
Brennan introduced up McCabe’s texts with Roberts later that day, together with one through which Roberts texted, “I am unable to cease seeing him within the snow, Jen, that is terrible.”
“Is your mind-set collusion?” Brennan requested McCabe, to which she responded, “No.”
McCabe has been dismissed as a witness. The trial adjourned for the day, with a forensic scientist from the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab on the stand.
Following McCabe’s testimony on Wednesday, Learn alleged McCabe was mendacity on the stand, saying she by no means informed the witness to make a Google search that morning.
“Each assertion’s completely different. Beneath oath. Not below oath,” she mentioned. “That is similar to what we noticed a 12 months in the past.”
