Defense Pushes for Acquittal as Lindsay Clancy Returns to Court Following Mistrial
PLYMOUTH, Mass. — Lindsay Clancy returned to Plymouth Superior Court Tuesday morning for her first appearance since her murder trial ended in a hung jury, as her legal team launched a high-stakes bid to have the charges thrown out entirely.
The status hearing before Superior Court Judge William Sullivan marked the first formal court proceeding since a mistrial was declared on September 4, following seven days of jury deliberations.
Defense attorney Kevin Reddington argued a motion for a required finding of not guilty under Rule 25(b)(2). Reddington asserted that prosecutors failed to present legally sufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Clancy was criminally responsible on January 24, 2023, when her three young children were killed in their Duxbury home.
Pointing to testimony from forensic experts called by both sides who acknowledged Clancy’s severe psychiatric condition at the time of the incident, Reddington argued that no rational jury could find her criminally responsible under Massachusetts law.
Prosecutor Shanan Buckingham forcefully pushed back against the motion, calling the defense’s claim of insufficient evidence “laughable”. Buckingham emphasized that the Commonwealth put forth “voluminous” evidence during the five-week trial showing intent and awareness. She reminded the court that diagnosis of a mental illness does not automatically relieve a defendant of legal criminal responsibility.
Beyond the sufficiency of evidence, the prosecution raised alarms over public commentary following reports that the jury was split 11–1 in favor of finding Clancy not criminally responsible. Buckingham noted that the single holdout juror had been subjected to intense public scrutiny and online harassment, warning the court that such pressure creates a “chilling effect” on the public’s willingness to serve on juries in high-profile cases.
Judge Sullivan did not rule on the defense motion on Tuesday, taking the matter under advisement.
While Sullivan expressed a desire to move forward toward a retrial as expeditiously as possible, Reddington stated that the defense would not be prepared to proceed with a second trial before June.
Judge Sullivan scheduled the next hearing for November 2. That session will address a proposed gag order filed by the prosecution, an inquiry into the post-trial treatment of the holdout juror, and further discussions regarding potential trial dates.
Clancy, 36, remains in state custody at Tewksbury State Hospital as the court deliberates on the pending motions.
