Judge Denies Mistrial in Lindsay Clancy 3-Murder Trial as Jurors Told to Ignore Religious Testimony
Updated
Updated · WPVI-TV · Aug 25
Judge Denies Mistrial in Lindsay Clancy 3-Murder Trial as Jurors Told to Ignore Religious Testimony
3 articles · Updated · WPVI-TV · Aug 25
Summary
Judge William Sullivan refused to halt Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial after defense lawyers argued prosecutors improperly elicited testimony about her Catholic upbringing and suicide as a “mortal sin.”
Sullivan called religion an “inappropriate area of inquiry,” told jurors again to disregard the comments, and sent them home before testimony from prosecution expert Kirk Heilbrun resumes Tuesday.
Kevin Reddington accused prosecutors of intentional misconduct, saying references to religion, heaven and killing people unfairly prejudiced the jury; prosecutors said the exchange was unintended and relevant to the witness’s reasoning.
Clancy has pleaded not guilty to 3 counts of first-degree murder in the January 2023 deaths of her three children, with the defense arguing postpartum psychosis and prosecutors contending she was criminally responsible.
A guilty verdict would bring life without parole, while a finding of not criminally responsible would send Clancy to a state mental health facility.