Mistrial in Massachusetts triple-murder case leads to September hearing
A September 29 hearing will determine whether prosecutors will retry Lindsay Clancy for the 2023 killings of her three children or dismiss the case, after a deadlocked jury prompted a mistrial.
A Massachusetts judge has scheduled a status and trial-assignment hearing for 9 a.m. on Sept. 29 in the case of Lindsay Clancy, who faces charges of murdering her three young children in Duxbury in January 2023. The hearing follows a mistrial declared on Sept. 4 after a jury remained split 11-1 on a murder conviction.
Prosecutors are expected to outline whether they will pursue a new trial on the original first-degree murder charges, seek a lesser charge such as manslaughter, or drop the case altogether. The defense will argue for a judicial finding of not guilty on the basis that the evidence is insufficient and will raise a double-jeopardy claim, contending that the court failed to address a holdout juror’s alleged deviation from jury instructions.
Defense attorney Kevin Reddington filed a renewed motion asserting that the prosecution has not proven Clancy understood the wrongfulness of her actions despite her reported postpartum psychosis. He also seeks court-ordered disclosure of the holdout juror’s phone records and questionnaire to determine whether any outside influence affected deliberations.
The holdout juror, identified by his attorney as Michael P. Desronvil, has denied doubts about Clancy’s guilt and criticized the defense’s request for his phone data. His attorney called the motion “disgusting” and warned it could set a precedent that undermines juror protections under the Sixth Amendment.
Legal scholars note that the outcome of the September hearing could shape the timeline for any subsequent trial or appeal, and may influence future juror participation in high-profile cases.