Massachusetts jury deadlocked in Lindsay Clancy murder trial, mistrial looming
A Massachusetts jury resumed deliberations in the Lindsay Clancy murder case but remains deadlocked, raising the likelihood of a mistrial.
A jury in Plymouth Superior Court resumed deliberations Thursday for a sixth day in the trial of Lindsay Clancy, who faces first-degree murder charges for the strangulation deaths of her three children in January 2023. The nine women and three men have spent more than 32 hours deliberating since the trial began on Aug. 27 and have told the judge they remain deadlocked.
Judge William Sullivan issued a final instruction, known as a "dynamite charge," in an effort to break the stalemate. Jurors can return a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, not guilty, first-degree murder, second-degree murder, or manslaughter.
"I think that we're at the end of the road here. It's very unlikely we're going to get a verdict," legal analyst Caroline Polisi said, adding that the jury may continue briefly to satisfy the judge before formally reporting a deadlock, which would require a mistrial.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys are expected to poll the jurors after a potential mistrial to decide how to proceed. Clancy's lawyer, Kevin Reddington, said he is prepared for a second trial as early as next week.
Clancy maintains she was not criminally responsible, citing overmedication and postpartum psychosis, while prosecutors argue she planned the killings and understood their wrongfulness. A conviction on any murder or manslaughter charge would result in prison, whereas a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity would keep her in a state psychiatric facility for periodic review.