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Lindsay Clancy trial: Jury says ‘they are deadlocked’; Will there be a ‘dynamite’ instruction? Here's what's next
As deliberations continue in Lindsay Clancy's murder trial, the jury has yet to reach a unanimous verdict.
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The jury in Lindsay Clancy's murder trial on Tuesday informed the judge that they could not reach a unanimous verdict as they commenced the fourth day of deliberations.
Judge William Sullivan directed the jurors to return and persist with their deliberations. “I know that this was a long trial,” Sullivan said. “I know there were over 80 witnesses, over 300 exhibits. But because of that, I’m going to ask you to go back out, keeping in mind all the instructions that I gave you. To go out and to continue your deliberations at this time.”
The prosecution, along with Clancy's attorney, Kevin Reddington, raised no objections.
Lindsay Clancy's lawyer speaks out
Earlier on Tuesday, Reddington stated that he would definitely pursue a trial again if the outcome results in a hung jury.
“Maybe today’s the day; we’ll see. I don’t know,” stated Reddington, who is defending Clancy in a murder trial that will ascertain her criminal responsibility for the deaths of her three young children.
The attorney expressed that he possesses "really strong faith" in the jury, highlighting that the jurors demonstrated attentiveness during the five-week trial.
What would happen after ‘deadlocked’ scenario?
If the jurors in the Clancy case find themselves deadlocked regarding first-degree murder, it does not automatically indicate that they are a hung jury.
In such a situation, they would proceed to evaluate second-degree murder, and if they remain unable to reach a consensus, they would then consider manslaughter.
David Rossman, director of the Criminal Law Clinical Program at Boston University, stated that Sullivan would accept any unanimous verdict they ultimately arrive at, as per CT Insider.
A complete deadlock, which signifies that jurors cannot agree on any verdict, may lead Sullivan to issue what is referred to as a “dynamite” instruction. This instruction would encourage them to continue their deliberations and to "search your conscience to see whether your position is truly reflective of your view," Rossman explained.
He mentioned that holdout jurors would be requested to reflect on whether they have been receptive to the viewpoints of others.
Rossman stated, If they are unable to reach a consensus, then 'I would expect the judge to deliver that kind of instruction because this has been a very labor intensive trial and it would cost a lot."
If the jurors are unable to reach a unanimous decision, Sullivan would announce a mistrial. According to Rossman, Clancy would remain at Tewksbury Hospital, a state psychiatric facility in Massachusetts. She has been held there throughout the trial and has been taken to Plymouth Superior Court for the hearings.
Prosecutors would then have the option to retry the case with a different jury.
According to Rossman, when determining whether to retry the case, prosecutors would probably take into account the degree of division within the original jury. He noted that narrow splits are more frequent, whereas significantly one-sided deadlocks are "extremely uncommon."
