Lindsay Clancy trial: Judge denies defense request for mistrial over 'intentional misconduct' | LIVE
Clancy has pleaded not guilty to three murder charges.
PLYMOUTH, Mass. -- The final witnesses are taking the stand in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts mom who killed her three young children while in the family's home on Jan. 24, 2023.
Clancy's defense attorney claims she was suffering from postpartum psychosis when she strangled her children and attempted to take her own life. Prosecutors argue that Clancy -- who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder -- is criminally responsible for her children's deaths.
Judge William Sullivan has denied a request by Lindsay Clancy's attorney Kevin Reddington to declare a mistrial, citing prosecutors' mention of Clancy's religion during recent testimony.
"I am not going to declare a mistrial at this time," Sullivan said.
Reddington had accused prosecutors of "intentional misconduct" after they asked forensic psychologist Kirk Heilbrun about a conversation he testified he had with Clancy, during which Heilbrun said they discussed her Catholic upbringing and the notion of suicide as a "mortal sin."
The phrase "mortal sin" has come up previously in this trial -- Clancy's former mother-in-law, an active churchgoer, was asked by prosecutors last week if she was "aware that murder is considered a mortal sin" -- with Sullivan instructing jurors at the time "not to consider" it "for any reason or any purpose."
At the time, Reddington did not move for a mistrial, calling it a "tactical decision," but said Monday that the most recent example was too much.
"It's the same thing again: talking about religion, talking about heaven, talking about killing people and the impact or the effect that it would have on Lindsay, as well as her children," he said.
Prosecutors pushed back on Reddington's motion for a mistrial Monday, arguing they did not intentionally invoke Clancy's religion, and that the remarks were relevant to the witness's testimony.
"There was no intentional conduct by the Commonwealth," prosecutor Jennifer Sprague told the judge. "That was not where I intended to go with this questioning, and I don't think that the witness intended to do any harm either, he was just explaining his rationale."
After denying the defense's request for a mistrial, Sullivan again instructed jurors to ignore recent testimony related to Clancy's religion, calling it "an inappropriate area of inquiry" and saying Heilbrun's "understanding of Catholic dogma or Catholic teaching is irrelevant."
Sullivan then sent the jury home for the day.
Testimony will resume with the same witness Tuesday at 9 a.m. ET.
If she is found guilty, Clancy faces life in prison without parole. If found not criminally responsible for the three murder charges, she will be sent to a state mental health facility.
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You are not on your own.
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