In the ongoing Karen Read murder trial, jurors have completed their second day of deliberations without reaching a verdict. The day was filled with tension as Read's defense attorney, Alan Jackson, engaged in a heated exchange with Judge Beverly Cannone.

As Read and her legal team arrived at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham on Wednesday morning, they were met with a familiar crowd of supporters. Inside the courtroom, the jury was still deliberating in a separate room when Jackson raised concerns about the wording of one of the verdict forms that the jury will use to determine Read's fate.

Read is accused of fatally hitting her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, with her SUV and leaving him to die in a snowbank outside a Canton home owned by Brian and Nicole Albert in January 2022. The defense argues that O'Keefe actually died after a fight inside the Albert home and that Read is being framed.

The verdict forms included charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle under the influence, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. Jackson focused on the wording of the manslaughter charge, where only a "guilty" option was provided for the series of checkboxes representing lesser charges.

When Jackson expressed his objections to this, Judge Cannone responded by stating, "That's how it is, Mr. Jackson." Undeterred, Jackson persisted, arguing that the wording should be changed and stating his strong objection to the court's ruling. At this point, Read seemed to display a smile and shake her head, but remained silent.

An irritated Judge Cannone called a halt to the proceedings, but later returned to the courtroom after a break. She agreed to provide additional instructions to the jury as requested by the defense. Furthermore, the defense asked for the wording on the verdict form to be modified to clarify "Not guilty of the offense charged or any lesser included offense."

The prosecution had no objections to the defense's suggestion. In addition to the discussions surrounding jury instructions and verdict forms, the jury posed two questions during deliberations. They inquired about the duration of their deliberations for the day and requested a specific report about a search. However, the report was not admitted into evidence, and Judge Cannone emphasized to the jurors that they already possessed all the relevant evidence in the case.

After nine hours of deliberation over two days, the jury will reconvene on Thursday morning to continue their deliberations. The fate of Karen Read, accused in the tragic death of Officer O'Keefe, hangs in the balance as the jury works towards reaching a verdict.