PLYMOUTH, Mass. – Jurors in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial entered a fourth day of deliberations Tuesday as they weigh whether she was criminally responsible for the 2023 deaths of her three young children.
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The jury began deliberations Thursday and had not sent any messages to the judge suggesting how its discussions were progressing, according to The Associated Press.
Latest from the courtroom
Jurors returned Tuesday for a fourth day of deliberations in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, with no verdict announced.
The jury is weighing whether Clancy was criminally responsible for the 2023 deaths of her three children, or whether her mental illness prevented her from understanding that her actions were wrong.
The case went to the jury after five weeks of testimony. Both sides agree Clancy killed the children, but sharply disagree about her mental state at the time.
LIVE | Clancy Trial Deliberations
What is Lindsay Clancy charged with?
What we know:
Clancy, 36, is charged in the deaths of her children: 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson and 8-month-old Callan.
The former labor and delivery nurse does not dispute that she killed the children at the family’s Massachusetts home in January 2023. She has pleaded not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility.
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The key question for the jury
Big picture view:
Clancy’s attorneys argue she was suffering from postpartum psychosis, a serious mental illness that affected her ability to understand reality and should prevent her from being held criminally responsible.
Prosecutors argue that Clancy knew what she was doing and intentionally killed the children before attempting to take her own life. They contend depression, rather than psychosis, motivated her actions.
What verdicts can the jury reach?
What’s next:
Jurors can find Clancy guilty of murder or a lesser charge of manslaughter. They can also find her not guilty if they conclude her mental illness meant she was not criminally responsible.
A murder conviction could carry a life prison sentence. If Clancy is found not guilty because of a lack of criminal responsibility, a judge could still order her committed to a mental health facility if she is determined to be a danger to the public.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
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