Defense psychologist testifies about Lindsay Clancy's mental state as trial resumes

The trial of Lindsay Clancy resumed Wednesday in Plymouth Superior Court with the cross-examination of forensic psychologist Dr. Paul Zeizel, who had testified for the defense about her mental health. Zeizel said he first met Clancy in a hospital in early February 2023, shortly after the deaths of her three children in Duxbury.

He described that Clancy had sought treatment for depression and psychotic symptoms of dissociation in late 2022, and that she believed her brain was damaged and feared losing custody of her children. He added that she called a suicide hotline twice in December but did not receive assistance, and that intrusive thoughts and voices intensified after her discharge from McLean Hospital.

"She felt that her brain was damaged, she felt that she should kill herself and she was never going to get any better," Zeizel testified.

"My opinion is that she did have indeed a mental disease. She was unable to conform her behaviors to the rule of law, and she had no appreciation for the wrongfulness of her act," he said.

During cross-examination, defense attorney Shanan Buckingham questioned how Zeizel learned that Clancy heard voices, noting that prior to the murders she had not described her intrusive thoughts as a commanding voice.

"You're aware that when she described intrusive thoughts, she never referred to them as a voice telling her to kill herself, did she?" Buckingham asked.

Clancy has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder while admitting to killing her children. The defense argues she was overmedicated and suffering from postpartum psychosis, whereas prosecutors contend she planned the murders and staged a suicide attempt that left her paralyzed. A conviction on first-degree murder would carry a life-without-parole sentence; a finding of not criminally responsible would result in commitment to a state psychiatric hospital.