The jury in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy has informed the judge they remain deadlocked after more than 30 hours of deliberations spanning five days. This marks the second time the jury has reported an impasse.
Clancy is accused of strangling her three children and attempting to take her own life in January 2023. The trial has centered on whether she was suffering from postpartum psychosis at the time and if she should be held criminally liable.
On Wednesday, Judge William Sullivan read the jury a Tuey-Rodriguez instruction, a measure intended to encourage jurors to continue working towards a verdict. The instruction reminds jurors of their duty to conscientiously decide the case and that they are the most competent group to do so.
Criminal defense attorney Peter Elikann told ABC News that if the deadlock persists, the judge may be forced to declare a mistrial, unless the jury themselves requests to deliberate further, which he considers doubtful. "This is really it. This is kind of the final push," Elikann stated.
If a mistrial is declared, legal analyst Brian Buckmire outlined potential next steps. The defense would likely seek bail for Clancy pending the prosecution's decision on whether to retry her. Buckmire indicated that a retrial is a likely scenario, though the prosecution could also choose to drop the case, a possibility Elikann deemed unlikely.
Another potential outcome following a mistrial is plea negotiations. Elikann explained that prosecutors might offer to reduce charges in exchange for a guilty plea to a lesser offense. However, Buckmire noted that prosecutors might be unwilling to lessen any charges.
Elikann also commented on the rarity and predictability of the jury's current situation. He noted that insanity defenses rarely succeed, typically resulting in convictions. However, Clancy's case was seen as different, with many anticipating either a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity or a hung jury, rather than a conviction for first-degree murder.