Judge Beverly Cannone rejected a defense motion to alter the verdict slips in the Karen Read case as jurors deliberate her guilt regarding charges of murder and manslaughter. Read's lawyers claimed the form was confusing and biased, favoring guilty verdicts due to its structure with multiple guilty options. Despite the defense’s concerns, Cannone ruled it was compliant with Massachusetts law. Following a prior mistrial sparked by juror confusion, defense emphasizes the need for clarity in the verdict process to protect Read's rights and ensure fairness in deliberation.
Read's lawyers argued that the verdict slip had an imbalanced presentation, favoring guilty options and potentially biasing jurors against her rights and clarity.
Judge Cannone maintained that the verdict slip adheres to Massachusetts law and wanted to ensure jurors had sufficient guidance to reach a verdict.
Following a previous mistrial, defense claims to have received input from jurors suggesting confusion, hoping to clarify the verdict process this time.
The defense is concerned that the imbalance in the verdict options could lead to an unjust outcome, citing past juror feedback as basis.
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