Retired Canton police lieutenant returns to witness stand in Karen Read murder retrial

Retired Canton police lieutenant Paul Gallagher returned to the stand Tuesday in the Karen Read murder retrial Gallagher used a leaf blower to remove layers of snow from the ground where Boston police officer John O Keefe s body was located On Monday he established the jury the broken cocktail glass he says he ascertained in the snow near O Keefe s body He also defended his unorthodox methods for processing the crime scene I started with a low speed and began whisking away the snow And then I saw how it was uncovering those pink spots becoming brighter red so I verified it was frozen or coagulated blood Gallagher declared The defense has been highly critical of how Gallagher collected DNA evidence in Solo cups and Stop and Shop bags But he testified he was forced to make quick decisions in blizzard conditions Read is accused of killing O Keefe her boyfriend by hitting him with her car and leaving him to die in a snowbank after a night of drinking Her lawyers argue she is being framed Her first trial last summer ended in a mistrial One of the Canton paramedics who tried to save O Keefe s life also testified Monday Katie McLaughlin recounted the jury she heard Read confess to hitting her boyfriend This is a growing news story stay with NEWS on-air and online for the latest details