Jury deadlocked in Lindsay Clancy murder trial as defence seeks juror removal
A Massachusetts jury remains deadlocked in the trial of former nurse Lindsay Clancy, accused of killing her three children, after her lawyer requested the removal of a juror who allegedly did not follow instructions on reasonable doubt.
A jury in a high-profile Massachusetts murder trial has reported another day of deadlock, extending deliberations over former labour-and-delivery nurse Lindsay Clancy, who faces three counts of first-degree murder for the 2023 killings of her three children. Clancy, now paralysed after jumping from a second-floor window, has pleaded not guilty, with her defence arguing she suffered postpartum psychosis at the time of the deaths.
During the sixth day of deliberations, the jury submitted a note indicating that one juror was not adhering to the judge’s instructions on the standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt. Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, asked the judge to remove the juror, but the request was denied. The judge instead provided renewed instructions to the panel.
"The juror will be identified in an inquiry by the judge on Friday morning," Reddington told reporters.
The courtroom atmosphere was described as tense, with Clancy appearing upset after the note was disclosed. Legal analysts note that extended deliberations are not unusual in cases involving complex mental-health issues.
"Six days of jury deliberation after a six-week trial with complex mental health issues is not unusual," former federal prosecutor Mark Chutkow said, adding that the defence’s motion to remove the juror could be aimed at preserving options for an appeal.
If the jury cannot reach a unanimous verdict, the judge may declare a mistrial, ending the proceedings without a verdict.