Последние свидетели обвинения бросают вызов защите от послеродовой психозы в деле Линдси Кленси
Эксперты-криминалисты заявили, что утверждения Линдси Кленси о слышании командующего голоса и послеродовом психозе неубедительны, тогда как защита настаивает, что её нельзя привлекать к уголовной ответственности.
Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Gregory Saathoff, who works with the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, told jurors that Clancy described hearing a voice that began on Jan. 24, 2023, after a phone call from her husband and that the voice stopped only after she strangled her three children. Saathoff said the account was unusual because the voice allegedly ceased once the killings were completed, was described as constant rather than intermittent, and had never been reported to her medical providers. He added that the timeline Clancy gave differed from other evaluators.
"Committing the act is not curative of the voice. I’ve not ever seen that," Saathoff said.
Forensic psychologist Kirk Heilbrun also testified that he did not believe Clancy experienced a command hallucination. He argued that the murders were linked to a suicide attempt, stating that Clancy killed the children to prevent them from suffering after she died.
"Everything I did as part of this evaluation, the evidence much more strongly, in my opinion, supported the second explanation, which was the serious suicide attempt accompanied by killing the children out of love," Heilbrun said.
Defense attorney Kevin Reddington questioned Heilbrun’s impartiality and highlighted testimony from family and friends describing Clancy as a caring mother with no history of abuse. Reddington emphasized her background as a former labor and delivery nurse and argued that the killings were inconsistent with her character.
Heilbrun acknowledged Clancy’s bipolar disorder and depression, worsened by insomnia and medication reactions, but concluded she was criminally responsible, noting she understood the illegality of killing and made deliberate choices during the 18- to 20-minute period of the murders.
"She retained an awareness of the illegality of killing others, including her children," Heilbrun said.
Saathoff is scheduled to resume testimony on Wednesday, with closing arguments expected as early as Thursday.