Shortly after 3PM today, the jury, which is now comprised of nine women and three men was instructed to first consider the greater charge of murder which will require all twelve jurors to reach an unanimous decision in order to convict. If a unanimous decision cannot be reached, only then may the jury consider the lesser of charge of manslaughter in the first degree, requiring ten or more jurors to reach an agreement.
Because deliberations began so late in the day it is not very likely a verdict will be reached today. Will write more about the closing arguments later.
Normally, I am happy to allow lively conversation and spirited debate on this blog if I believe it is helpful for the general readers but it is obvious that some armchair detectives are engaging in pointless speculation that helps neither the prosecution or the defense and I am disabling comments on all posts related to this trial. (Probably I will delete most or all of these comments as well)
