Additional Coverage:
- Lindsay Clancy lawyer makes shocking U-turn as he claims ‘no evidence’ mother slayed kids (themirror.com)
Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts mother accused of fatally strangling her three young children earlier this year, appeared Tuesday at the Plymouth courthouse for a hearing to determine whether she will face a second trial. This marked Clancy’s first court appearance since her September 4 trial ended in a mistrial, with the jury deadlocked 11 to 1 in favor of acquitting her on murder charges.
The lone holdout juror refused to join the majority in accepting Clancy’s defense of temporary insanity related to postpartum psychosis, following the January 2023 deaths of her children-Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and Callan, 8 months-in their Duxbury home.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, maintained there was insufficient evidence to prove she was responsible for the killings. He described the investigation as “ridiculous” and argued that no credible proof exists to link Clancy to the crime.
“When she came out of the obvious coma she was in, she had no memory of what happened,” Reddington said. “Under the legal standard, there cannot be evidence that she killed those children.”
Judge William Sullivan deferred ruling on Clancy’s motion to dismiss the case on double jeopardy grounds, scheduling that issue for a November 2 hearing. The court also postponed discussion of the prosecution’s recent request to bar Clancy’s defense team from making public statements about the case, citing constitutional and legal concerns.
Clancy’s defense contends that she suffered from a rare but severe postpartum psychosis and that her medical care was inadequate. After the mistrial, juror Paula Devlin told CBS’s “Saturday Morning” that the case was a pivotal moment. “Justice for those children is that this never happens again,” Devlin said.
Meanwhile, questions have arisen about the holdout juror, Michael Desronvil, who has publicly affirmed his belief in Clancy’s guilt. The defense has asked the judge to investigate whether Desronvil was truthful during jury selection and deliberations and whether he violated court rules by using a cellphone during deliberations.
The trial has drawn widespread attention nationwide, sparking important conversations about maternal mental health and postpartum disorders. Supporters, many wearing pink in solidarity with Clancy and other women affected by postpartum illnesses, gathered outside the courthouse once again on Tuesday.
Clancy remains charged with three counts of murder and is expected to remain in a psychiatric facility pending further proceedings. She has been paralyzed from the waist down after jumping from a second-story window following the tragic deaths. If convicted, she faces life imprisonment; if acquitted, she could be confined to a mental health institution.