MA: JURY SEATED FOR LINDSAY CLANCY TRIAL
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PLYMOUTH, Massachusetts (WCVB) — Jury selection was completed Thursday afternoon in the trial of Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts mother accused of strangling her three children in 2023. The court also heard arguments related to evidence and witnesses before adjourning until opening statements on Monday.
Clancy was indicted on three counts each of murder in the 2023 deaths of her 5-year-old daughter Cora, 3-year-old son Dawson and 7-month-old son Callan. She pleaded not guilty to the charges.
She became a paraplegic after harming herself in the immediate aftermath of her children’s deaths.
Clancy’s defense team plans to use the insanity defense, arguing that she suffered from postpartum psychosis and was overmedicated at the time of the alleged crimes.
Jury selection on Thursday began with a setback, with two jurors dismissed because of work-related issues. However, the process quickly got back on track, and the 18-member panel was completed just after 2 p.m.
The final jury is made up of 12 women and six men. They will not know until the presentation of the case is concluded who will deliberate and who will be an alternate.
Following jury selection, the court heard arguments about Patrick Clancy’s motion asking that pictures of his three children, autopsy photos and the record of his 911 call not be distributed to the public.
Prospective jurors have been asked about mental health, including through a questionnaire.
Among the questions asked: “Is there anything about the description of the case or the charges that causes you to believe you cannot be fair and impartial in this case?”
Another question reads: “Have you, a family member or close friend ever been diagnosed with Postpartum Depression, Depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder or Bi-Polar Disorder?”
Background of the Clancy case:
Lindsay Clancy faces three murder charges in the 2023 deaths of her children, Cora, Dawson and Callan.
She also jumped from a second-floor window, leaving her partially paralyzed.
In a civil case, Clancy alleges a “catastrophic failure” of multiple medical providers in diagnosing and treating her psychiatric condition.
Her trial is scheduled to begin on July 20. Although her legal team offered to stipulate to the deaths of the children, she has pleaded not guilty.
She is being held at Tewksbury State Hospital.
Finding jurors
Judge William F. Sullivan said the trial is expected to last six to eight weeks. In pretrial hearings, attorneys noted the strain that service in this case could put on jurors.
The defense is expected to argue Clancy lacks criminal responsibility because she suffered from postpartum psychosis and was overmedicated. That line of defense is a factor in the jury selection process.
“In a case like this, which, frankly, comes from a very, very dark place, it’s going to be excruciatingly difficult to empanel 18 indifferent, impartial and fair, unbiased jurors,” said retired judge James Barretto. “They will do it, if it takes one day, two days, or seven days or 14 days, they will find those 18 people.”
Prospective jurors are being asked to complete a questionnaire and review a witness list to ensure they don’t have any connection to anyone who could testify. The questionnaire included questions about whether prospective jurors could remain impartial when considering these charges, whether they have any close relation to someone with mental health or postpartum issues and whether they are open-minded about the insanity defense.
Each was then called to speak with attorneys and the judge.
While conversations with the prospective jurors were held out of hearing range from reporters in the gallery, dozens were seen being excused each day. More than one appeared to be emotional as they exited the courtroom.
Preparation for the trial
The defense is planning to argue a lack of criminal responsibility, formerly known as the insanity defense. Attorney Kevin Reddington said she was being overmedicated for postpartum psychosis.
Her trial is expected to last six to eight weeks, and the witness list contains more than 200 names. Attorneys were ordered to develop a consolidated witness list, which can be shown to the prospective jurors to determine if any have prior knowledge of the witnesses.
Sullivan denied Reddington’s request to sequester the jury, but promised to check in with the jurors daily to confirm they have appropriately avoided any media coverage or research outside of the courtroom.
Before jury selection began Monday, the prosecution raised a concern about some of the names added to the defense witness list. Reddington argued the witnesses could help Clancy’s defense rebut claims that could be presented by the prosecution starting in opening statements, but the judge ruled in favor of the prosecution.
However, the judge left the door open to revisit the issue should another challenge arise during the trial.
Charges modified
Earlier this month, prosecutors moved to consolidate some of the charges, and her attorneys filed motions in anticipation of the jury selection process.
Court records show the prosecution filed a notice of nolle prosequi on three counts of strangulation or suffocation. NewsCenter 5 checked with the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office, which said the charges were “redundant.”
“The murders of the three Clancy children resulted from strangulation. As our motion states, the charges would be subsumed into the murder charges indicted,” a spokesperson wrote.
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