Thursday, April 7, 2016 | 8:17 a.m.
BOSTON — The highest court in Massachusetts has been asked to dismiss a manslaughter case against a teenager accused of 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 charge. The Supreme Judicial Court heard arguments Thursday.
Carter could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
A prosecutor argued that Carter committed manslaughter when she 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 lawyer told the court her actions do not meet the legal definition of manslaughter.
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