UPDATE: Lindsay Clancy, the Duxbury mother charged with the shocking murders of her three young children, is seeking to move her trial out of Plymouth County, claiming she cannot receive a fair hearing due to extensive media coverage. Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, has filed a motion to relocate the case to Suffolk Superior Court in Boston, arguing that biased public sentiment makes an impartial jury impossible.
The prosecution, led by Plymouth Second Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sprague, has swiftly rebutted this claim, asserting that the court will ensure a fair trial through a “deliberate and thoughtful individual voir dire process” designed to filter out biased jurors. The trial is currently set to commence on February 9, 2024, but Reddington is pushing for a postponement to next spring, citing the need for more time to address these concerns.
Clancy, aged 35, has pleaded not guilty to the charges of murdering her three children: Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and Callan, 8 months. The prosecution alleges that Clancy used a ligature, reportedly an exercise band, to strangle each child, a method requiring holding the ligature in place for several minutes to cause death. Following the alleged murders, authorities claim Clancy attempted suicide, resulting in injuries that have left her paralyzed and reliant on a wheelchair.
In a decisive move, Reddington argues that the “exploitive prejudicial publicity” surrounding the case makes it impossible for Clancy to receive a fair trial in Plymouth County. He stated, “In light of the extensive media coverage… the unavoidable conclusion is that Lindsay Clancy cannot be given a fair trial in Plymouth County.”
However, Sprague countered that the media coverage has not been “highly prejudicial” against Clancy. She pointed out that Reddington himself contributed to the sensationalism by engaging with reporters and promoting his narrative, which included opinions about Clancy’s mental health. Sprague criticized the defense’s request for a venue change, suggesting that it is disingenuous for Reddington to claim media bias after courting the press himself.
Reddington is also pursuing an insanity defense, claiming that Clancy was emotionally unstable due to postpartum depression at the time of the tragic events on January 24, 2023. As the case unfolds, the next hearing is scheduled for Tuesday morning at Plymouth Superior Court, where the judge will likely address the motion for a venue change and set the stage for the upcoming trial.
The implications of this case resonate deeply within the Duxbury community and beyond, highlighting critical issues of mental health and the legal system’s capacity to deliver justice in the face of overwhelming media scrutiny. As developments continue, the public will be closely observing how Clancy’s request for a change of venue will impact the judicial process and what it means for her defense strategy moving forward.
