4.Final Jury Instructions and Verdict Forms

THE COURT: Now, members of the jury, the duties of counsel and the Court have been performed. The case has been argued by counsel. The Court has instructed you regarding the rules of law which should govern you in your deliberations. The time has now come when the great burden of reaching a just, fair, and conscientious decision of this case is to be thrown wholly upon you, the jurors selected for this important duty.

You will not be swayed by sympathy, prejudice, or passion. You will be very careful and deliberate in weighing the evidence. I charge you to keep your duty steadfastly in mind and, as upright citizens, to render a just and true verdict, or in this case, just and true verdicts.

The following six forms of verdict will be submitted to you concerning the charges against the defendant, Steven A. Avery.

One reading: We, the jury, find the defendant, Steven A. Avery, guilty of first degree intentional homicide, as charged in the first count of the Information.

A second reading: We, the jury, find the defendant, Steven A. Avery, not guilty of first degree intentional homicide, as charged in the first count of the Information.

A third reading: We, the jury, find the defendant, Steven A. Avery, guilty of mutilating a corpse, as charged in the second count of the Information.

And a fourth reading: We, the jury, find the defendant, Steven A. Avery, not guilty of mutilating a corpse, as charged in the second count of the Information.

A fifth reading: We, the jury, find the defendant, Steven A. Avery, guilty of possession of a firearm, as charged in the third count of the Information.

And a sixth reading: We, the jury, find the defendant, Steven A. Avery, not guilty of possession of a firearm, as charged in the third count of the information.

It is for you to determine whether the defendant is guilty, or not guilty, of each of the offenses charged. You must make a finding as to each count of the Information.

Each count charges a separate crime and you must consider each one separately. Your verdict for the crime charged in one count must not affect your verdict on any other count.

This is a criminal, not a civil case, therefore, before the jury may return a verdict which may legally be received, the verdict must be reached unanimously. In a criminal case, all 12 jurors must agree in order to arrive at a verdict.

When you return to the jury room, select one of your members to preside over your deliberations. That person's vote is entitled to no greater weight than the vote of any other juror.

When you have agreed upon your verdicts, have them signed and dated by the person you have selected to preside. I ask that you return the unsigned verdict forms as well.

At this point, I'm going to ask the media folks to shut the audio down because the Court is going to be identifying one of the jurors by name. I believe somebody is supposed to signal me once that's been done. Thank you.

Members of the jury, as I previously indicated, just before the beginning of deliberations, any remaining alternate jurors would be selected. We are now at that point in the trial.

The alternate juror will be sequestered separately from the other jurors until deliberations are completed, to be available in the event one of the other 12 jurors becomes unable to complete deliberations.

The alternate juror in this case has been determined to be Nancy Stienmetz. Ms Stienmetz, with the consent of counsel for both parties, I will be meeting with you shortly, in chambers, to explain your remaining role in this case.

At this time I will ask the Clerk to swear the officer.