- The jury in the Lindsay Clancy trial has repeatedly told the judge they are deadlocked, unable to reach a unanimous decision after five days of deliberations.
- Judge William Sullivan has ordered the jury to continue deliberations, reading them the Tuey-Rodriguez charge—a special set of instructions in Massachusetts that reminds jurors of their duty to reach a decision.
- The jury in the Lindsay Clancy trial told Plymouth Superior Judge William Sullivan that they remain deadlocked after more than 27 hours of deliberations, and it is the second time they have told the judge they cannot reach a verdict, leading Sullivan to read a final "dynamite" instruction.
- The nine women and three men have been deliberating over the course of five days since getting the case in Plymouth Superior Court last Thursday.
- In response to the second note, Sullivan read what are called the dynamite instructions to the jury, and after reading the instruction, he sent them back out of the courtroom to continue deliberations.
- This is not the first time the jury has reported being deadlocked; they previously told the judge on the fourth day of deliberations that they could not reach a verdict.
- Judge Sullivan acknowledged the length of the trial—over 80 witnesses and over 300 exhibits—and asked the jury to go back out and continue deliberating.
- If the jury remains deadlocked after the second instruction, Judge Sullivan could declare a mistrial, and the Plymouth County district attorney, Timothy Cruz, would decide whether to retry Clancy for first-degree murder, a lesser charge, or not at all.
- Clancy's lawyer, Kevin Reddington, commented on the deadlock, saying he didn't know if it was a good or bad sign, but that the jury was working hard to reach a decision.
- The courtroom atmosphere was tense as the jury returned with the deadlock note, with some jurors showing exasperation and one closing her eyes as the judge read the instructions to continue.
The jury in the Lindsay Clancy trial has been deadlocked for over 27 hours across five days of deliberation, prompting Judge William Sullivan to issue a final 'dynamite' instruction.12345678
"After much deliberation we are still unable to come to a unanimous decision," jurors communicated to the judge, indicating their struggle to reach a consensus.
The Tuey-Rodriguez charge was read to the jury, reminding them of their duty to decide the case. Judge Sullivan emphasized, "You should consider that it is desirable that the case be decided... there is no reason to suppose that the case will ever be submitted to 12 persons who are more intelligent, more impartial, or more competent to decide it than you are."
Clancy is charged with the first-degree murders of her three children—5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson, and 8-month-old Callan—committed in their Duxbury home. The jury can choose from five verdict options, including not guilty by reason of insanity, not guilty, first-degree murder, second-degree murder, or manslaughter.
If the jury remains deadlocked, Judge Sullivan may declare a mistrial, leaving the decision to the Plymouth County district attorney, Timothy Cruz, on whether to retry Clancy or drop the case. "I don’t know that it’s a good sign, a bad sign or any sign," said Clancy's attorney, Kevin Reddington, reflecting on the jury's ongoing deliberations.131415
The case has drawn significant attention, with a woman arrested outside the courthouse for allegedly filming jurors, further complicating the trial's atmosphere.
“The jury, nine women and three men, has deliberated over 27 hours since receiving the case last Thursday. If they remain deadlocked after the second instruction, Judge Sullivan could declare a mistrial, leaving District Attorney Timothy Cruz to decide whether to retry Clancy for first-degree murder or a lesser charge.”
BBC
CBS News
