Jurors in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial concluded their sixth day of deliberations on Thursday without reaching a verdict, as a dispute involving a holdout juror raises the possibility of a mistrial. The panel, composed of nine women and three men, has previously indicated it was deadlocked, and deliberations are scheduled to resume Friday.
Earlier on Thursday, defense attorney Kevin Reddington requested the removal of a juror after the foreperson reported that one individual was refusing to adhere to the court's instructions regarding reasonable doubt. Reddington cautioned that the case could conclude without a verdict due to this juror's alleged refusal to apply the legal standard.
Prosecutors objected to the removal of a juror, arguing that it would be improper to scrutinize the jury's private deliberations to determine who was correct. They stated that the judge acted appropriately by questioning the jurors about their ability to follow the law and by reissuing instructions on reasonable doubt.
Judge William Sullivan declined the request to remove the juror, describing the action as a "sensitive undertaking" and stating the court could not take sides in the jury's deliberations. Following the court's proceedings, Reddington indicated that a subsequent jury note suggested a divide of 11 to 1. He stated that this note indicated "11 jurors that have made a decision and one juror will not apply reasonable [doubt]."
The jury's notes have not specified which verdict the majority favors or the stance of the dissenting juror. Judge Sullivan is scheduled to conduct an inquiry on Friday. If the jurors again report an inability to reach a unanimous decision, the case could result in a mistrial.
Reddington expressed readiness for a potential retrial, stating, "I got witnesses lined up. We’re all set. Dr. Resnick is ready. I’m ready. We’ve got all our evidence. Witnesses are available, so let’s go." He indicated that while prosecutors might seek to delay a new trial, he would be prepared to proceed quickly.
Clancy, 36, faces three counts of first-degree murder in the January 2023 deaths of her children, Cora, Dawson, and Callan, all under the age of 6, who were found strangled in their Duxbury, Massachusetts, home. Clancy does not dispute killing her children; the jury must determine her criminal responsibility at the time of the incident. Prosecutors argue she understood her actions and should be held accountable, while her defense attorneys contend she was suffering from postpartum psychosis and lacked the capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of her actions or conform her conduct to the law. The jury is considering various potential verdicts, including first-degree murder, second-degree murder, voluntary or involuntary manslaughter, not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility, or a not guilty verdict.