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4w ago

Mistrial in Lindsay Clancy Case After 11–1 Jury Deadlock

The deadlock leaves prosecutors to decide whether to retry Clancy, raising urgent questions about juror safety and public debate over postpartum mental illness.

John Hinckley Jr., who shot and wounded President Ronald Reagan in 1981, was found not guilty by reason of insanity at trial.
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Defense attorney Kevin Reddington has a history of representing clients who argue they were insane at the time of their offense.
Lindsay Clancy's trial was the latest case in the long, quixotic history of the insanity defense.

Overview

  • A Plymouth County judge declared a mistrial after a 12‑person jury reported an 11–1 split following more than 30 hours of deliberation.
  • Clancy’s lawyers have filed a post‑trial motion asking the judge to find her not criminally responsible and a Sept. 29 status hearing is set to address next steps.
  • The unnamed lone holdout juror has been the focus of intense media scrutiny that included reports of dismissed past assault charges and public criticism from other jurors.
  • A GiveSendGo fundraiser started by Tom Hennessy has raised tens of thousands of dollars to pay for the juror’s security, legal fees and lost wages.
  • The outcome spotlights the clash between a defense of severe postpartum psychosis and prosecution claims of planned murder and could lead prosecutors to retry the case, seek a plea, or pursue other options under Massachusetts law.