See the amended Karen Read manslaughter charge verdict slip

A Karen Read retrial jury note yesterday prompted the judge to issue a lightly amended verdict slip.

“Does guilty on a sub-charge mean guilty on the overall charge?” a jury note read in part.

The question has to do with Read’s second indictment for manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor, which includes subordinate options, or “lesser included” offenses, the jury can consider if they do not believe Read’s actions made her guilty of the full primary offense.

Those are involuntary manslaughter, motor vehicle homicide and operating under the influence of liquor.

Read is accused of using her car to strike and kill Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, her boyfriend, on Jan. 29, 2022.

The original verdict slip lists each possible charge in a numbered list, which the defense had argued was confusing for jurors but that Judge Beverly J. Cannone said complied with state law. The jury note changed her mind.

The new slip for manslaughter is longer and includes inline directions at each stage. Jurors are to consider the charges from the top, the full OUI manslaughter charge, down through the lesser offenses in order of severity.

At each stop is a prompt. Examples include: “If you find the defendant not guilty of the offense charged or any lesser included offense, stop and sign the verdict slip.” “If you find the defendant guilty of the lesser included offense of involuntary manslaughter, stop and sign the verdict slip. If you find her not guilty of involuntary manslaughter, then continue to next page.”

The original verdict slip

The revised OUI manslaughter part

The jury continues deliberating today.

Originally Published: June 18, 2025 at 10:29 AM EDT