As deliberations stretch into their fourth day, jurors in the trial of Lindsay Clancy told Judge William Sullivan on Tuesday that they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict.
Sullivan instructed the jurors to continue deliberations. But the apparent split signals the possibility of a hung jury, which could result in the judge having to declare a mistrial.
“I know that this was a long trial,” Sullivan said. “I know there were over 80 witnesses, over 300 exhibits, but because of that, I’m going to ask you to go back out — keeping in mind all the instructions that I gave you — to go out and to continue your deliberations at this time.”
The jury of 12 — nine women and three men — began deliberations after closing arguments Thursday afternoon in Massachusetts.
Since Clancy has admitted to killing her children, the trial has focused on her mental state at the time the crimes were committed.
Clancy’s attorneys have argued that she was suffering from a postpartum-psychosis-induced episode, where she heard voices telling her to kill her children and herself. The defense has argued that because of this, Clancy cannot be held legally culpable for her actions that day.
Though the prosecution acknowledges that Clancy suffered from mental health issues such as depression, they argued that her actions were calculated, premeditated and not the result of psychosis.
Clancy is facing three counts of first-degree murder, and three counts of assault and battery. She faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole if she is convicted on the charges of first-degree murder. The jury could convict her on all or some of the charges, or find her not guilty on all counts.
The post Jury in Lindsay Clancy trial is deadlocked, will continue deliberations appeared first on Washington Post.
