Massachusetts mother seeks dismissal of murder charges after mistrial

Lindsay Clancy returned to a Boston courtroom on Monday to ask that the murder charges for the deaths of her three young children be thrown out on double-jeopardy grounds. The request follows a September trial that ended in a mistrial after jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict.

Clancy, 36, has never denied killing the children in 2023, but her defense team argues she suffered postpartum psychosis and lacked control over her actions. Prosecutors acknowledge her mental-health issues but contend she acted deliberately and understood that her conduct was wrong.

Defense attorney Martin G. Weinberg told Judge William Sullivan that the judge should have investigated further after the jury foreperson submitted notes indicating that a juror was not following the rules. Weinberg suggested that additional questioning might have uncovered reasons to remove the holdout juror, Michael Desronvil, and allowed deliberations to continue, potentially avoiding the mistrial.

“That’s what the foreperson was asking the court to do,” Weinberg said.

Judge Sullivan responded that he had already spoken with each juror, reminded them of their duties, and confirmed they understood the law. He noted that all jurors affirmed they could apply the law to the case.

Prosecutor Jennifer Sprague argued that Sullivan had struck the appropriate balance, warning that probing deeper into jury deliberations could lead the court to impose its own interpretation of the law.

“You were the one who looked them in the eyes and asked them the questions and was in the best position to judge their credibility,” Sprague told the judge.

Sprague added that the holdout juror’s refusal to agree was based on his belief in Clancy’s guilt, not personal reasons. Desronvil, the juror, later said he was certain of her guilt but felt unheard.

Prosecutors maintain that double jeopardy does not prevent the Commonwealth from seeking justice for the three victims. Judge Sullivan did not immediately rule on the defense motion, scheduling a further hearing for 16 November to consider the matter and possibly set a new trial date.