Karen Read Trial: Jury Questions Focus on OUI Charge and Verdict Clarity

Day 35: Jury Deliberations Begin

• ⏰ The day began with Judge Beverly Fenoni addressing the jury, asking if they had followed instructions regarding discussing the case, conducting independent research, or encountering external information.
• ⚖️ The jury was sent back to deliberate, with speculation among observers that a verdict might be reached due to jurors dressing nicely, often seen as a sign.
• 🎙️ The speaker, Brandi Churchwell, shared personal anecdotes about watching the movie "12 Angry Men" and discussed various reality TV shows and books as a way to decompress from the intensity of the trial.

Initial Jury Questions Submitted

• ❓ The jury submitted three specific questions to the court, indicating their focus during deliberations.
• 🚗 The first question concerned the timeframe for the OUI (Operating Under the Influence) charge, specifically asking if it pertained to 12:45 AM or 5:00 AM.
• 🎥 The second question asked if video clips of Karen Read's interviews constituted evidence and how they should be considered during deliberation.
• ⚖️ The third question sought clarification on whether convicting on a sub-charge, such as offense two, number five (OUI), would automatically lead to conviction on the overall charge.

Judge's Responses and Verdict Slip Amendments

• 🗣️ Judge Fenoni initially proposed answers to the first three questions, stating that the jury had all the evidence and were the fact-finders for the OUI timeframe.
• ✅ For the video clips, she confirmed they were evidence and could be given "whatever weight you deem appropriate," also incorporating digital evidence and humane practice instructions.
• 📝 The judge announced amendments to the verdict slip to make it clearer, particularly regarding how convictions on lesser included offenses relate to the overall charges, guiding the jury to proceed from top to bottom.

Crucial Fourth Question and Controversial Ruling

• 🚨 A fourth, critical question was submitted by the jury: "If we find not guilty on two charges but can't agree on one charge, is it a hung jury on all three charges or just one charge?"
• 💡 This question strongly suggested the jury had reached "not guilty" verdicts on counts one and three (second-degree murder and leaving the scene of an accident causing death) and were hung on count two (manslaughter with OUI).
• 🚫 Judge Fenoni controversially ruled that she could not answer this question, deeming it "theoretical" and stating jurors should not be concerned with the consequences of their verdict, despite defense objections.

Implications and Day's End

• ⚠️ The judge's refusal to answer the fourth question raised concerns about a potential mistrial on similar grounds as the previous trial, where jury confusion on reporting verdicts led to issues.
• 📊 Discussion ensued about the OUI evidence, highlighting issues with the forensic soundness of blood tests and the reliability of retrograde extrapolation, suggesting reasonable doubt.
• 🌙 Despite intense anticipation, the jury was ultimately sent home for the day without a verdict, with deliberations set to resume the following morning, leaving the trial's outcome uncertain.