Judge Declines to Dismiss Juror as Lindsay Clancy Murder Trial Stalls on Sixth Day of Deliberations
The murder trial of Lindsay Clancy remains deadlocked after six days of jury deliberations, with the defense seeking removal of a juror and the judge refusing the request.
A jury in the Lindsay Clancy murder case reported a second deadlock on Thursday, indicating that the twelve jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict after nearly five days of deliberation. The deadlock follows an earlier notice filed on Tuesday.
After the jury submitted a question during a lunch break, Judge William Sullivan reiterated his instructions on the legal standard of reasonable doubt, stating that a charge is proven only when jurors have an "abiding conviction to a moral certainty that the charge is true."
Defense attorney Kevin Reddington then moved to have one juror removed, alleging that the juror was refusing to follow the judge’s instructions on reasonable doubt. > "A charge is proved beyond a doubt if, after you’ve compared and considered all of the evidence, you have in your minds an abiding conviction to a moral certainty that the charge is true," the judge said.
Prosecutor Jennifer Sprague responded that the court could not determine the content of the jurors’ deliberations and affirmed that the judge’s handling of the question was appropriate.
Judge Sullivan declined the defense’s request, emphasizing his role in remaining neutral. > "I don’t feel that it is proper for me to side with one side or the other of the deliberations. I don’t feel it’s appropriate for me to say I agree with one juror or the eleven," he said, adding that each juror had confirmed they could follow his instructions.
The jury was sent back to deliberate and was dismissed for the day after about 30 additional minutes of discussion. Under Massachusetts law, the judge may send the jury back twice before declaring a mistrial, unless the jurors agree to continue.
If a third deadlock occurs, the judge is expected to declare a mistrial. Defense attorney Reddington indicated he is prepared for a second trial as early as next week, while prosecutors have not confirmed their timeline.
The case centers on whether Lindsay Clancy is criminally responsible for the deaths of her three children in January 2023. The defense argues she was experiencing postpartum psychosis and acted under auditory hallucinations, whereas prosecutors contend she planned the killings and was not in a psychotic state. The jury may consider convictions ranging from first-degree murder, which carries a life sentence, to lesser charges or a verdict of not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility.