Lindsay Clancy’s lawyer asked judge to acquit her despite mistrial outcome

The defense attorney for Lindsay Clancy, Kevin Reddington, has formally requested that the presiding judge enter a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. This move comes just six days after the trial concluded in a mistrial when the jury failed to reach a unanimous decision. Reddington is pushing for Judge William Sullivan to take this action himself, arguing that the prosecution failed to meet the necessary burden of proof during the six-week trial.

As reported by The Guardian, legal argument presented by Reddington hinges on the definition of criminal responsibility in Massachusetts. He reportedly maintains that the prosecution did not provide sufficient evidence to prove that Clancy understood the wrongfulness of her actions when she killed her three children in January 2023. 

Even the expert witnesses brought forward by the prosecution reportedly acknowledged that Clancy suffered from a severe mental illness at the time of the incident. According to Reddington, the evidence simply showed she could perform routine tasks, which does not equate to the mental capacity required to appreciate the moral weight of her actions. 

Prosecutors haven’t confirmed if they’re going to retry the case

In his motion, Reddington stated, “No rational jury could find beyond a reasonable doubt that she had no mental disease or defense when the Commonwealth’s own proof established that she did.” The trial itself was an incredibly intense process that spanned six weeks in Plymouth, Massachusetts. 

The jury deliberated for seven full days before Judge Sullivan officially declared a mistrial last Friday. This followed multiple reports from the panel indicating that they were deadlocked and unable to reach a unanimous verdict. 

Since the mistrial was declared, more information has emerged regarding the internal dynamics of the jury. A fourth member of the 12-member panel has gone public to explain that the deadlock was the result of a single holdout juror. This juror reportedly acknowledged having reasonable doubt but still refused to agree to a verdict of not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility.

It is worth noting that 11 of the 12 jurors were reportedly prepared to find Clancy not guilty by reason of insanity. This revelation adds another layer of complexity to an already tragic situation. The defense has maintained throughout the proceedings that Clancy was suffering from postpartum psychosis when she strangled her children, Cora, five, Dawson, three, and eight-month-old Callan, with exercise bands in the basement of their Duxbury home

Following the incident, Clancy attempted to end her own life by cutting herself with a knife and jumping from a second-story window, which ultimately left her paralyzed. The path forward remains uncertain as prosecutors have not yet announced whether they intend to retry the case. Reddington is now pushing for a hearing to argue his motion, which is currently scheduled to take place soon.