Lindsay Clancy’s lawyer claimed in court that one juror in the killer mom’s murder trial “refuses to listen to the law” after the panel announced it was deadlocked twice — leading to a slew of possible outcomes in the case that has gripped the nation.
The case centers on dueling accounts of what drove Clancy to strangle her children to death using exercise bands inside their Duxbury home before throwing herself out of a second-story window on Jan. 24, 2023.
Defense lawyer Kevin Reddington argued that the mother was in the throes of postpartum psychosis, worsened by myriad prescription medications. Reddington also claims she heard a man’s voice instructing Clancy to kill the children and herself.
Prosecutors countered she carefully planned the killings, including sending her then-husband to pick up medication at CVS and take-out from a local restaurant so she could commit the heinous crimes.
The 12-person jury, made up of nine women and three men, has sent out four notes since deliberations began last Thursday afternoon.
The first note came Aug. 28, on the first full day of deliberations, when the jury asked to see the knife Clancy used to harm herself after killing the kids.
Two notes followed Tuesday and Wednesday, where the jury indicated they were deadlocked and couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict.
One day later, on Thursday, jurors sent another note to Judge William Sullivan.
Reddington revealed that the mysterious jury note that prompted the judge to question the jurors one by one at sidebar was from the foreperson, claiming a single juror “refuses to follow the law” on the judge’s instruction about reasonable doubt. The defense attorney lost his bid to have the panelist tossed from the jury.
Friday morning before the jury deliberations began, Reddington argued for the judge to grill the juror individually — and revealed the holdout juror was a man and accused him of lying Thursday when Sullivan questioned all the jurors one by one.
But Sullivan shot down the request during heated debate in which he appeared to grow frustrated with Reddington.
The high-profile trial could now end in an array of outcomes, including:
Convicted of murder:
First-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole. Second-degree murder carries a sentence of life with the possibility of parole.
Convicted of manslaughter:
A lesser charge, Clancy could face up to 20 years in prison per count.
Not guilty by reason of insanity:
Clancy would stay in a mental hospital and receive treatment until doctors deem her no longer a threat to herself or others. The judge has said she could one day go free, but didn’t say how long it could take.
Here’s the latest on Lindsay Clancy’s trial for allegedly murdering her three children:
- Lindsay Clancy verdict watch live updates: Defense accuses male juror of lying to judge, argues he should be dismissed from case
- Lindsay Clancy jury sent home for the day after judge’s stern warning on reasonable doubt
- Lindsay Clancy’s lawyer drops courtroom bombshell — claims one juror ‘refuses to listen to the law’
- Lindsay Clancy’s lawyer irate as he fights for juror to be removed
- Lindsay Clancy jury struggling to reach a verdict — experts reveal the most likely outcome
Mistrial:
If the jury cannot reach a verdict, the judge could declare a mistrial. Clancy’s lawyer said he expects prosecutors to pursue a second trial against her if this happens.
Juror removed:
Clancy’s lawyer was seeking to boot the lone holdout juror and have him replaced with an alternate, but Sullivan struck that request down.
