Lindsay Clancy trial: jury still deadlocked after six days

The Lindsay Clancy trial is back in a Plymouth, Massachusetts, courtroom with no verdict. On a sixth day of deliberations, a deadlocked jury sent a note to Judge William Sullivan, who questioned jurors one by one after a tense sidebar in which defense lawyer Kevin Reddington slammed down papers.

Key Takeaways

• Jurors have twice told the court they cannot agree and are now in a sixth day of deliberations.
• A fresh jury note prompted one-by-one questioning after a heated bench conference.
• Clancy faces three first-degree murder counts in the 2023 deaths of her three children.
• The defense cites postpartum psychosis; prosecutors say the killings were calculated.
• If deadlock holds, a mistrial is possible and prosecutors could seek a retrial.

Why has the Lindsay Clancy trial jury stayed deadlocked?

Jurors in Plymouth Superior Court have spent six weeks hearing the case and more than 35 hours deliberating, according to BBC reporting from the courtroom. They have already told Judge William Sullivan twice that they cannot reach a unanimous decision. On Wednesday, the judge read the Tuey-Rodriguez charge, a final instruction that asks jurors to consider the reasonableness of all opinions.

Clancy, 36, a former nurse, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder. She does not dispute killing her two sons and daughter in 2023. Prosecutors argue she made a calculated, intentional decision and acted “intentionally, rationally, and swiftly.” Her lawyer says she was suffering from postpartum psychosis and could not distinguish right from wrong.

A former prosecutor told CNN the stalemate is unsurprising given the emotional facts. Some jurors may be focused on the children’s deaths, while others may accept the defense argument that a loving mother would not have done this unless she was in severe psychosis. Follow more true crime and unsolved mysteries coverage as the case unfolds.

What happened when court resumed on Thursday?

Court resumed after hours of waiting, with Clancy, her family, prosecutors, and a packed gallery present. Some members of the public were turned away because the courtroom was too crowded. Clancy’s parents and her sister, Allison Ozga, arrived at the courthouse. The jury sent a note whose contents were not immediately clear to reporters.

Sullivan called lawyers to a private sidebar, where CNN and the BBC described an animated exchange: Reddington sighed, slammed papers, crossed his arms, and at one point raised his voice. He then wheeled Clancy to the bench, and the judge spoke with her directly. She later remained nearby as each of the 18 jurors—12 deliberating and six alternates—was brought in one by one.

Reporters could not hear the questions. Jurors raised a hand, spoke briefly, and were escorted out. After those interviews, the panel returned and Sullivan began reading the definition of reasonable doubt aloud.

What happens if the jury remains deadlocked?

If jurors still cannot agree, the judge may declare a mistrial to avoid coercing a verdict. First-degree murder in Massachusetts carries a mandatory life sentence without parole. Lesser options include second-degree murder or manslaughter, both of which would mean prison time. A not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity finding would send Clancy to a psychiatric hospital for periodic review, possibly for life.

Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz said of the deadlock, “We’ll hang on and find out,” and declined to say whether he would retry the case. Reddington told reporters he is ready for a second trial—“Bring it”—and that expert Dr. Phillip Resnick and other witnesses are lined up. CNN reported that after a mistrial Clancy would likely remain held without bail at Tewksbury Hospital.

Reddington also brought a box of letters he said supporters sent from around the world, adding that Clancy reads them all. The next move still belongs to the jury.