Jury in Lindsay Clancy murder trial told to follow law 'whether you agree with it or not'

Natalie Stechyson · CBC News

· Posted: Sep 04, 2026 10:43 AM EDT | Last Updated: 7 minutes ago

WARNING: This article contains details about violence against children and attempted suicide.

The deadlocked jury in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial has returned for a seventh day of deliberations on Friday after strict instructions from the judge to apply the rules of reasonable doubt.

"You must follow the law as I give it to you whether you agree with it or not," Judge William Sullivan told jurors before they filed out of the courtroom in Plymouth County Superior Court in Plymouth, Mass.

This comes after a dramatic turn of events in court the day before revealed a single juror as the only holdout. In a note delivered to Sullivan, the jury's foreperson told the judge one juror among the 12 won't follow the court's instructions about reasonable doubt.

During Thursday's sidebar with legal teams and eventually Clancy herself, observers noted defence attorney Kevin Reddington became heated, slamming documents down on the desk and gesticulating as he spoke to the judge. During sidebars, no one in court can hear what is being discussed.

Proceedings once again became heated on Friday, before the jury was brought in, as the lawyers and Sullivan argued about how to handle Thursday's letter from the jury.

Prosecutors argued the jurors should be instructed to return to deliberations, while Reddington disagreed, arguing the juror in question "looked you in the eye, and lied" about following Sullivan's instructions.

Every defendant is entitled to have a juror who is "true to their oath," Reddington said.

Kevin Reddington, defence attorney for Lindsay Clancy, walks through reporters and television cameras while arriving at Plymouth County Superior Court on Friday. (Charles Krupa/The Associated Press)

Sullivan ultimately ruled that he will not do a further inquiry of the juror, saying he would remind them to follow the law "whether they like it not."

In an objection, Reddington requested that Sullivan be less "soft" in his instructions, adding that he didn't do it "forcefully" Thursday. And the exchange once again became heated.

"What do you want me to do?" Sullivan said, his voice rising. "I'm not an actor. I'm just giving the instruction."

To which Reddington suggested that Sullivan was "glossing over" the imperative to apply the law of reasonable doubt.

"I'll try to do this with more pizazz than I did yesterday," Sullivan added later.

WATCH | Tempers rise as jury deadlocked:

Judge could declare mistrial

Clancy, 36, is accused of killing her three children in 2023 while her then-husband was running an errand. Over the past five weeks, jurors have heard that she strangled Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and eight-month-old Callan with exercise bands in the basement of their home in the Boston suburb of Duxbury.

Clancy's defence doesn't dispute the killings. But they argue she isn't criminally responsible because she had bipolar disorder and was suffering from postpartum psychosis, a rare and little-understood mental health condition that can affect a new mom's sense of reality.

• Judge lectures Lindsay Clancy jury on reasonable doubt, tells them to keep deliberating

• Lindsay Clancy supporter arrested outside court, and other dramatic moments from the murder trial

Prosecutors argue Clancy is guilty of three counts of first-degree murder because she plotted to get her husband out of the house so she could carry out the killings.

If jurors ultimately cannot agree on a verdict, the judge could declare a mistrial.

If you or someone you know is struggling, here's where to look for help:

• Canada's Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 988.
• Provincial and territorialmental health support.
• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868. Text 686868. Live chat counselling onthe website.
• This guide from theCentre for Addiction and Mental Healthoutlines how to talk about suicide with someone you're worried about.