Jurors in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy entered a sixth day of deliberations Thursday after twice telling the judge they could not reach a unanimous verdict, and a former defense lawyer for Karen Read praised Clancy’s attorney for his work, according to court reporting and media interviews.
David Yannetti, who was part of Read’s defense team in both of her Massachusetts trials, told Fox News Digital that the situation revived the “stress and the pressure” that accompanies having someone’s life “in your hands.” Yannetti said Clancy’s lawyer “appears to be confident,” and praised his courtroom performance, the outlet reported.
Judge William Sullivan, presiding over the Clancy trial, told jurors about the prosecution’s burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt after receiving a new note from them Thursday afternoon and sent them back to continue deliberating, court records show. An attorney identified as Reddington asked the judge to remove an apparent single holdout, a request Sullivan rejected, court reporting said.
Clancy is charged with three counts of murder in the deaths of her children, Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and Callan, 8 months. Jurors could find her guilty of first- or second-degree murder, convict her of manslaughter, or find her not criminally responsible under an insanity defense, prosecutors said in court filings.
Retired Massachusetts Judge Carol Erskine, commenting on social media, said judges must be cautious not to interfere with deliberations and noted that “refusing to deliberate and refusing to agree are not the same thing.” Yannetti told Fox News Digital the wait for a verdict can be agonizing for attorneys and clients, calling it “torture.” The court recessed shortly after 4 p.m.; jurors are scheduled to return Friday for a seventh day of deliberations.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
