Jurors from the mistried Lindsay Clancy murder trial are facing online criticism for remarks suggesting they were "excited" by the proceedings and found the defense attorney "entertaining."
Three women from the 12-person jury spoke to NBC Boston following the declaration of a mistrial in the case of Lindsay Clancy, 36, who was on trial for the January 2023 killings of her three young children, Cora, five, Dawson, three, and Callan, eight months. The mistrial was declared after more than 37 hours of deliberations when one juror refused to acquit the defendant, despite admitting to reasonable doubt.
Jury foreperson Roni Carlson told NBC Boston that she had begun filling out the verdict forms, expressing excitement when the holdout juror acknowledged reasonable doubt. "I started filling out the forms. I was so excited. There were three forms I had to fill out, and then he said, 'But I'm still not going to say she's not guilty,'" Carlson stated.
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These comments drew swift condemnation on social media, with critics decrying the jurors' apparent eagerness to conclude the trial and their description of the serious case as "exciting."
The jurors also commented on the demeanor of Clancy's defense attorney, Kevin Reddington, describing him as "entertaining." Carlson noted that his demeanor was "funny" at times and that the defense lawyer "was entertaining, which was good because we needed some of that," a sentiment other jurors reportedly agreed with.
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This observation also sparked criticism, with some commentators arguing that a murder trial should not be viewed as entertainment and questioning the jurors' focus.
Clancy admitted to strangling her children but entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, attributing her actions to postpartum psychosis. Prosecutors contended that the killings were intentional and premeditated, not the result of a loss of control.
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The jury deliberated for over 37 hours. On Thursday, the foreperson sent a note to Judge William Sullivan stating that one juror was refusing to follow the law regarding reasonable doubt. Defense attorney Reddington's attempt to compel further deliberations was denied, leading Judge Sullivan to declare a mistrial Friday afternoon at Plymouth Superior Court.
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Clancy, who has been held at Tewksbury State Hospital since 2023, may face a retrial. The jurors' names have been temporarily sealed by the court, and the holdout juror has not yet publicly shared their perspective.