The murder trial of Lindsay Clancy was marked by a courtroom confrontation Friday, as the defense accused prosecutors of making an inappropriate comment while Clancy was audibly distressed by autopsy photos of her deceased children. The clash occurred on the ninth day of testimony in Plymouth County Superior Court.
Clancy's defense attorney, Kevin Reddington, alleged that a prosecutor muttered "shut her up" as Clancy, who is charged with killing her three young children, sobbed uncontrollably while graphic images of her eight-month-old son, Callan, were displayed to the jury. The defense claims a hot mic in the courtroom captured the remark. "This is not like 'Handmaid's Tale.' You can't tape her mouth shut," Reddington stated, referring to the prosecution team.
The defense attorney brought the alleged incident to the judge's attention before the jury re-entered the courtroom. Following the dispute, Judge William Sullivan issued a stern warning, stating that any individuals making inappropriate or disruptive comments would be immediately removed and banned from the proceedings.
The Plymouth County District Attorney's Office denied the accusation, asserting that an internal review of the video indicated the comment was "shut it off," referring to the screens displaying the autopsy photos, and that it was made by someone else in the courtroom, not the prosecutors.
Clancy, 35, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of her children, Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months. The children were found dead in their Duxbury home on January 24, 2023. Clancy is accused of strangling them with exercise bands before attempting suicide by cutting her wrists and neck and jumping from a second-floor window. Her defense argues she was suffering from severe postpartum depression and psychosis.
On Friday, jurors heard testimony from two psychiatrists who had treated Clancy. Dr. Jennifer Tufts, who began treating Clancy in September 2022, testified that on January 23, 2023, the day before the killings, Clancy showed no signs of psychosis. According to Dr. Tufts, Clancy denied having suicidal or homicidal thoughts, or experiencing hallucinations during their appointment that day. She described Clancy as depressed and anxious but able to communicate normally, with appropriate speech and thought processes and no cognitive deficits.
Dr. Tufts stated that Clancy had been prescribed 13 different psychiatric medications from multiple providers between September 2022 and January 2023. The defense contends that Clancy was overmedicated, which worsened her condition. The prosecution, however, has argued that Clancy was of sound mind and did not take all her prescribed medications, presenting evidence of pill bottles found in her home with pills still inside.
Jurors also heard from Dr. Alia Goodheart, a psychiatrist at McLean Hospital, who treated Clancy during a five-day voluntary admission starting January 1, 2023. Dr. Goodheart testified that Clancy repeatedly described feeling "numb."
If convicted, Clancy faces a sentence of life without parole. If found not guilty by reason of insanity, she will be admitted to a psychiatric unit. The trial is ongoing.