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Lindsay Clancy trial: Why did judge ‘abruptly’ end Wednesday's court session? New details emerge

Lindsay Clancy's trial was abruptly halted over "unforeseen circumstances" as a forensic psychologist testified. Reports say it was a witness scheduling delay.

Updated on: Aug 20, 2026, 02:13:28 IST
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On Wednesday, the sensational trial of Lindsay Clancy was brought to an abrupt end because of what the judge described as "unforeseen circumstances."

Lindsay Clancy sits in court with her attorney Kevin Redinngton during her murder trial Wednesday, Aug. 19. (Amanda Sabga/Pool The Boston Her)
Lindsay Clancy sits in court with her attorney Kevin Redinngton during her murder trial Wednesday, Aug. 19. (Amanda Sabga/Pool The Boston Her)

Wednesday marked Day 16 of the trial of Lindsay Clancy at the Plymouth Superior Court in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The trial was heating up with the testimonies and cross-examination of a forensic psychologist. The court then briefly heard whether TikToker Emily Thorndike should be allowed to testify, before eventually ruling it off.

The trial was expected to continue after the court broke for lunch. But, just as everyone was seated inside the courtroom for the trial to resume, Judge William Sullivan dismissed the jurors abruptly. Judge Sullivan only cited “unforeseen circumstances” adding that it was "not something we saw coming." No further details about them were released.

The judge asked people "not to speculate about what it is or hold it against either side. It’s just something we have to deal with.”

The adjournment on Wednesday raised eyebrows, given it came on the back of a delay in the start of the day's proceedings. According to journalist Lauren Conlin, who is covering the court proceedings in the Lindsay Clancy trial, the court was dismissed because of a defense scheduling issue. "I'm hearing that we were dismissed early because of defense witness scheduling issues," she reported.

Forensic Psychologist's Testimony In Focus

The majority of Day 16 trial was focused on the testimony of forensic psychologist Dr. Paul Zeizel, who works at the unit at Tewksbury State Hospital unit where Lindsay Clancy is admitted. Wednesday was Zeizel's second day of testimony.

Zeizel confirmed that Lindsay Clancy suffered from bipolar disorder with postpartum psychosis. He also confirmed that the tests performed on Lindsay Clancy showed that she was not faking her symptoms.

"Lindsay Clancy has bad days and worse days," Zeizel said, amid allegations from the prosecution that his testimony was biased. “She does speak about her children. She really loved them, and misses them, and thinks of them every single day almost every moment of the day,” Zeizel continued.

"She felt that her brain was damaged, she felt that she should kill herself and she was never going to get any better. Her concern was that when people could hear her thoughts, her children would be removed from her care. They were getting worse and they were telling her to kill herself."

  • Shamik Banerjee
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Shamik Banerjee

    Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

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