Judge keeps holdout juror in Lindsay Clancy murder trial after deadlock

September 4, 2026 at 04:52 AM2 min

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A Massachusetts judge declined to remove a holdout juror in Lindsay Clancy's murder trial after the jury forewoman reported a member refusing to follow instructions on reasonable doubt. Judge William Sullivan questioned each juror individually and told the panel to continue deliberations. The jury has deliberated for about 35 hours without reaching a verdict.

Key Facts

Lindsay Clancy, 36, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of her children Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months, on 24 January 2023.
The jury of nine women and three men in Plymouth has deliberated for about 35 hours without a verdict.
Judge William Sullivan denied the defence's request to remove the holdout juror and told the panel to continue deliberations.
Clancy's lawyer Kevin Reddington said the forewoman's note stated one juror 'refuses to listen to the law... on reasonable doubt'.

Jury Deadlock

The jury forewoman sent a note to Judge William Sullivan saying one juror would not follow the court's instructions on reasonable doubt. Defence lawyer Kevin Reddington asked for the holdout to be removed, but the judge denied the request. Judge Sullivan brought in each juror individually and questioned them before ruling the holdout could stay. The panel has twice previously sent notes saying it could not reach a unanimous decision, but Thursday was the first hint of rancour in the deliberation room.

Courtroom Tensions

Reddington and prosecutor Jennifer Sprague had an animated discussion with the judge in court, with reporters unable to hear the exchange. The BBC observed exasperated facial expressions and gestures from Clancy's attorney. Clancy, paralysed from the waist down after jumping from a second-floor window, was pushed in her wheelchair by Reddington to join a discussion with the judge about the deadlock. Reddington looked visibly upset and frustrated, and was seen consoling Clancy as journalists left court.