Lindsay Clancy’s high-profile murder trial in the death of her three children has been declared a mistrial after the defense team’s emergency appeal was denied by highest court in the state of Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court concluded an emergency hearing on Friday, September 4, ultimately denying an appeal filed by Clancy’s defense attorney after the judge shared his intention to declare a mistrial amid a deadlocked jury.
Judge William Sullivan granted Clancy’s defense, Kevin Reddington, an hour to seek an emergency stay before a mistrial was formally declared, according to CNN.
“I’m kind of a history buff and during World War II, Winston Churchill was the Prime Minister of England when England pretty much stood against Nazi Germany alone,” Judge Sullivan said while addressing the jury before declaring a mistrial in the controversial case. “So Churchill [often] had to talk to the citizens and let us brace for our duties. I always like that phrase, and I thought of that phrase when all of you were agreeing to be on this jury. You agreed to brace for that duty and each one of you knew how long the case was going to go, you knew how difficult the case was going to be to listen to, facts-wise. But still, you braced for that duty.”
He continued, “I watched every day, day after day, week after week, [and] all of you [were] performing that duty that you braced for. And I kind of wanted to let you know: I understand how hard everyone worked in this case. I understood you all gave everything you could and probably more than you thought you could … I just want to thank you so much. You should be proud of what you did. You braced for that duty. You performed that duty.”
The Supreme Judicial Court had turned down Reddington’s appeal aimed at preventing a mistrial, CNN reported.
“Intervention is necessary in this case to avoid an avoidable mistrial of a case that is so time and labor intensive and that has captured so much public attention. It is also necessary to preserve the Defendant’s right to a fair trial by unbiased jurors applying the law and to avoid violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fifth and Fourteenth amendments and Article 114, which makes mental illness a protected category,” Clancy’s defense team argued in the emergency request, obtained by NBC Boston.
“A mistrial at this point is entirely avoidable, but only if the court does its job,” the filing also states.
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According to CNN, the Supreme Judicial Court judge praised the defense before issuing a ruling.
“I think I understand your argument,” the judge reportedly told the defense team, per CNN. ‘Although it was quick papers it was good papers and I understand the distinction that you’re making. I now have to make a decision.”
Another hearing has been scheduled for September 29. The future of the case remains unclear.
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