BOSTON – Massachusetts’ highest court is set to hear arguments in the case of a teenager charged with involuntary manslaughter for allegedly sending her boyfriend dozens of text messages encouraging him to kill himself.
Michelle Carter is awaiting trial in the 2014 death of Conrad Roy III.
Carter’s lawyers are appealing a juvenile judge’s decision denying their motion to dismiss the charges. The Supreme Judicial Court will hear arguments on Thursday.
Carter is charged as a youthful offender and could face up to 20 years’ imprisonment if convicted.
Prosecutors say Carter urged Roy to “just do it” and told him to get back in his truck when he became frightened that the plan to poison himself with carbon monoxide was working.
Carter’s lawyers say Roy was determined to take his own life.