Clancy Hearing Turns Tense Over Naming Holdout Juror

Lindsay Clancy appeared in a Plymouth courtroom on November 2 as her lawyers and prosecutors argued over the next steps in her murder case. A sharp exchange broke out between defense lawyer Kevin Reddington and Judge William Sullivan after Reddington identified the juror who had opposed acquitting Clancy by reason of insanity.

Sullivan told Reddington to stop, and Reddington replied that the judge would not stop him. The judge said there was no need to use the juror’s name and directed the defense to call him “Juror Doe.” Reddington said the juror’s name was already widely available online.

Clancy’s lawyers asked Sullivan to dismiss the case, arguing that the juror should have been investigated more closely before the trial ended in a mistrial. Lawyer Martin Weinberg said further questioning could have uncovered possible problems with the juror’s questionnaire or cell phone use during deliberations. Sullivan noted that he had questioned jurors individually about following his instructions on reasonable doubt. The defense said a more probing inquiry was needed.

The trial ended in a mistrial on September 4 after seven days of deliberations. Eleven jurors were leaning toward a not-guilty verdict for Clancy based on insanity, while the holdout, Desronvil, favored conviction. A jury foreperson had previously raised concerns about the holdout’s understanding of reasonable doubt; Desronvil has denied those claims and said he had no doubt of Clancy’s guilt.

Prosecutors sought a gag order after Reddington spoke to the press following the mistrial. They have argued Clancy planned the killings, while the defense has said severe postpartum psychosis and psychiatric medication left her not criminally responsible. Sullivan said he would rule on the dismissal request at a November 16 hearing.