Lindsay Clancy’s lawyer, Kevin Reddington, is arguing there’s a “complete lack of evidence” to suggest his client killed her three children in her first court appearance since her triple-murder trial ended in a mistrial.
Clancy, 36, appeared in Plymouth Superior Court for a status hearing on Tuesday, September 29, more than three weeks after Judge William Sullivan declared a mistrial on September 4 after a deadlocked 11-1 jury was unable to reach an unanimous verdict.
Reddington asked Sullivan to acquit Clancy on grounds the prosecution did not present sufficient evidence proving she was criminally responsible for killing her three young children — Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months — in January 2023.
Reddington added that the prosecution presented “total and complete lack of evidence” that she killed her kids, according to People.
“I ask the court to look back at the evidence presented and ask yourself, where is the evidence that she did this?” Reddington said.
Reddington also said that Clancy had no memory of killing the children when she woke up in the hospital following her suicide attempt on the same day as the attacks. Additionally, he said there was no evidence that she confessed to the killings.
The attorney went on to criticize how the investigation was handled and argued that there was a lack of DNA evidence presented during the trial.
After Reddington made his argument on September 29, prosecutor Shannan Buckingham said his remarks were in contrast with his trial arguments.
During the trial, Reddington argued that Clancy should not be held criminally responsible due to her documented mental health struggles, including postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis and bipolar disorder. The prosecution argued that despite her mental health issues, Clancy knew right from wrong leading up to and at the time of the killings, claiming her actions were premeditated. .
“We’re hearing now for the first time in this argument that counsel is challenging first the sufficiency of the evidence as it applies to the three counts of murder,” Buckingham said.
She went on to point out that Clancy never denied killing her children, and she argued that the prosecutors presented sufficient evidence to establish Clancy’s guilt.
“Not every defendant with a mental illness or defect lacks criminal responsibility,” Buckingham said.
It is not yet clear whether the case will go back to trial following the hearing. Sullivan has been tasked to take both the defense and prosecution’s arguments into consideration as the future of the case is determined.
Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 833-852-6262 for free, confidential support, available 24/7 in the U.S.
