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LAST UPDATE | 10 hrs ago
THE JURY IN the murder trial of US woman Lindsay Clancy have concluded their deliberations and are to resume at 9am local time (2pm Irish time) on Wednesday.
It follows a failure among the jury to come to a unanimous decision earlier today. The judge in the case requested they continue their deliberations.
Lindsay Clancy (36) is on trial for the murder of her three children in the basement of her Massachusetts family home in January 2023, while allegedly suffering from postpartum psychosis.
Her defence does not dispute that she fatally strangled 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson, and 8-month-old Callan with exercise bands. However, her defence has argued that due to her mental health she cannot be found guilty of murder.
The prosecution has argued that Clancy deliberately and intentionally carried out the killings, as well as faking a suicide attempt.
The jury heard evidence from over 80 witnesses over the five-week trial before they began deliberating on Thursday.
This afternoon, the fourth day of deliberations, the jury emerged and told Judge William Sullivan they could not reach a unanimous decision.
Quoting the jury’s question to him, the judge said: “After many hours of deliberation, we are unable to come to a unanimous decision.”
He continued, “I brought you back out because I know that this was a long trial. I know that there are over 80 witnesses, there are 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.”
Sullivan asked them to return and continue deliberating, which they did before emerging hours later and requesting they break and continue in the morning.
In Massachusetts, jury verdicts must be unanimous, with all 12 jurors in agreement.
The jury of nine women and three men will continue their deliberations in the morning.
The jury can find Clancy guilty of first-degree murder, which will result in her life imprisonment, second-degree murder, where parole is possible, or manslaughter, which carries a sentence of up to 20 years.
Alternatively, they can determine she is not criminally responsible for the killings due to her mental health. This would mean Clancy would be sent to a mental institution.
If you have been affected by any of the issues mentioned in this article, you can reach out for support through the following helplines. These organisations also put people in touch with long-term supports:
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