The holdout juror in Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial was accused of domestic violence just five years before the high-profile case, according to police.
The Brockton Police Department report said that the juror’s 13-year-old nephew called 911 in September 2021 after he and his wife got into a violent argument, according to CBS News. The report stated that the juror, who has not been publicly identified, allegedly grabbed his wife by the throat and pushed her into a dresser.
The juror was then charged with one count of domestic violence assault and battery, and he pleaded not guilty. Court records reportedly state that the criminal charge was later dismissed.
Clancy, 36, was on trial after she killed her kids — Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months — in January 2023. While she never denied killing her kids, her defense argued that she should not be held criminally responsible due to her ongoing mental health struggles. However, the prosecution argued that Clancy should be found guilty because they believe she knew what she was doing when she killed them and attempted to die by suicide soon after.
The holdout juror chose to not find Clancy not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility despite the 11 other jurors voting that way. After the jury was unable to come to a unanimous verdict, Judge William Sullivan declared a mistrial in Clancy’s case on September 4.
The prosecution has not yet shared whether they plan to take her case back to trial. The next court hearing is scheduled to take place at Plymouth Superior Court on September 29.
Following the end of the trial, several jurors have come forward to discuss the case. Some have even shared insight into the holdout juror’s behavior and his arguments during the deliberation process.
Juror Nick Dargie told ABC News on Wednesday, September 9, that he never learned why the holdout juror refused to find Clancy not guilty.
“There were several times I would ask him to show us, like, evidence or, you know, describe a witness testimony that helped to prove what he was saying, and he couldn’t,” Dargie, 25, said. “There wasn’t a single piece of evidence or witness testimony that he used to prove why he was thinking the way he was, which is why we ultimately sent in that note.”
He added, “Otherwise, there’s nothing wrong with somebody having a completely opposite opinion. That would be a hung jury. That is our justice system.”
Meanwhile, three women on the jury spoke to NBC10 Boston about the mistrial result and shared their experiences with the holdout juror.
“He admitted he had reasonable doubt, and I started filling out the forms,” the foreperson of the jury told the outlet. “I was so excited. There were three forms I had to fill out and I started filling them out. I wrote my signature on each one and then he said, ‘But I’m still not going say that she’s not guilty by reason of insanity.’”
If you or someone you know is pregnant or just had a baby and is in crisis, help is available. Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline for free, confidential support 24/7 in English and Spanish at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).
