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Lindsay Clancy judge says he’ll declare a mistrial, but grants defense one hour to appeal
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- Massachusetts’ top court denied Lindsay Clancy’s lawyers’ last-minute attempt to prevent a mistrial after the jury deadlocked for the third time in her triple-murder trial involving the deaths of her three young children.
- Judge William Sullivan declared a mistrial following nearly six weeks of trial and seven days of jury deliberation, after the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict on whether Clancy was criminally responsible or not guilty by reason of mental illness.
- Clancy’s defense argued she suffered from postpartum psychosis, a rare mental illness that impaired her reality, while prosecutors contended she was in control and deliberately planned the murders, asserting she manipulated her treatment and doctors.
- The jury was given multiple instructions to continue deliberating, but Massachusetts law limits such requests to twice without jury consent; after the third deadlock, the judge was compelled to declare a mistrial.
- The trial drew national attention, sparking public support for Clancy and discussions about maternal mental health, but prosecutors emphasized the case was about the murders themselves, not the mental health system.
