The defence lawyer for a Massachusetts mother accused of murdering her three young children has warned the court she remains a serious suicide risk and could attempt to take her own life during her forthcoming trial.
Defence warns of 'significant suicidal ideation'
Lindsay Clancy, 35, is charged with the murders of her children – five-year-old Cora, three-year-old Dawson, and eight-month-old Callan – in January 2023. Her attorney, Kevin Reddington, told Plymouth County Superior Court that Clancy should be considered a 'danger to herself'.
'If this woman kills herself during this trial, which there is a very real probability that could happen, it's on somebody, and it's not on me,' Reddington stated, according to reports. He emphasised that while she was not a danger to others, her 'significant suicidal ideation' was a grave concern.
Logistical challenges for a paralysed defendant
Following the alleged killings at the family's $750,000 home in Duxbury on 24 January 2023, Clancy attempted suicide by jumping from a second-storey window. The fall left her paralysed from the waist down. She now requires a wheelchair and around-the-clock supervision.
Reddington described the upcoming trial, scheduled to begin on 20 July, as a 'logistical nightmare'. He initially argued she would need ambulance transport to and from court, citing her complex medical needs. The Plymouth County Sheriff's Office countered that a wheelchair-accessible van would suffice.
After discussion, Reddington conceded a specially equipped van was 'sufficient', noting the mental health facility where she is held, Tewksbury State Hospital, has used one for her medical appointments.
Insanity defence planned amidst prosecution claims
Clancy has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder, three counts of strangulation, and three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Her defence team plans to pursue an insanity defence, arguing she suffered from severe postpartum depression at the time of the alleged crimes.
Prosecutors have contested this, stating she was evaluated by mental health professionals and not diagnosed with that condition. They also allege Clancy used her mobile phone to research ways to kill in the days before her children died.
Superior Court Judge William F. Sullivan has not yet ruled on the final transport arrangements. The case continues.
