Jury in Lindsay Clancy trial finishes fourth day of deliberations without a verdict
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UPDATED:
Judge William Sullivan has dismissed the jury for the day in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial. He said jurors asked him if they could end deliberations early on Tuesday and resume in the morning, and he granted that request.
The jurors were brought back into the courtroom at about 3:30 p.m. EDT, where the judge reminded them not to seek any outside information about the case or discuss it with anyone else. Then Sullivan adjourned court until 9 a.m. EDT on Wednesday.
ORIGINAL STORY:
PLYMOUTH, Mass. — The jury in the Lindsay Clancy case says it’s unable to reach a decision and is deadlocked.
Jurors sent Judge William Sullivan a note Tuesday morning about an hour after they began deliberations for the fourth day.
“I’ve got your question, and the question is: ‘After many hours of deliberation, we are unable to come to a unanimous decision,'” Sullivan said, after calling the parties and jurors back into the courtroom.
“I know that this was a long trial. I know there are over 80 witnesses, there were over 300 exhibits — but because of that, I’m going to ask you to go back out, keeping in mind all the instructions I gave you, and continue deliberations at this time,” the judge said.
Clancy, 36, doesn’t deny strangling her three children but says postpartum psychosis led to her actions and that she shouldn’t be held criminally responsible for their deaths. Prosecutors, however, argue that Clancy knew what she was doing and should be made to face the legal consequences.
Clancy has pleaded not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility.
The jury could convict Clancy of murder or manslaughter, or acquit her if jurors believe her deteriorating mental health was to blame. A conviction could result in a life sentence. If she is acquitted, a judge could still order her confined to a mental health facility if an evaluation determines she is a danger to the public.
Watch a livestream of the proceedings here.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was originally published at 8:40 a.m. Tuesday and has been updated.