Lindsay Clancy trial: Lone holdout juror issues video statement after mistrial as defence makes shocking move

Lindsay Clancy’s defence has made a shock new legal move by arguing prosecutors have not proved she killed her three children as the case returns to court following a mistrial.

The 36-year-old killed her three children — Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and eight-month-old Callan — at their home in January 2023 by strangling them with exercise bands.

Clancy’s murder trial ended in a mistrial on September 4 after the jury became deadlocked, with 11 jurors supporting a finding she was not guilty by reason of insanity and one juror refusing to agree.

Returning to court in Massachusettes on Tuesday, Clancy’s defence lawyer, Kevin Reddington, said the prosecution’s case amounted to “speculation” and lacked sufficient evidence to establish she was responsible for the deaths.

“This entire case is based on speculation,” Mr Reddington said, according to NBC.

The defence had previously not disputed that Clancy was responsible for the deaths of her three children, and argued she was not criminally responsible because she was suffering from postpartum psychosis, a severe mental health disorder that can occur after childbirth.

Mr Reddington now points to Clancy’s condition when she was found outside the family home after falling from a second-storey window, as well as her reported lack of memory of what happened after she regained consciousness in hospital.

He did not present an alternative suspect or offer another explanation for the children’s deaths.

Prosecutor Shanan Buckingham rejected the defence’s argument, calling it “laughable” while referring to evidence presented during the trial.

Prosecutors maintain that Clancy was aware her actions where wrong when she strangled her three children.

Prosecutors are yet to decide whether to retry Clancy.

In a video released since the mistrial earlier this month, lone holdout juror, Michael P Desronvil, said he wanted the attention to shift away from his decision and be redirected toward the three children who lost their lives.

“I know the whole focus has been on me, but we want to reel everything back and put the focus on the three angels,” Mr Desronvil said in the clip, shared on Fox News’ Hannity.

“The ones that can’t speak for themselves, the ones that can’t defend themselves, and the ones that can’t fight the battles — and those are Cora, Dawson and Callan.”

Mr Desronvil said he was grateful for the support he had received during the “difficult situation”.

“I want to thank God for my Catholic faith. I want to thank God for blessing me with the ability to love my daughter,” he added.

“And foremost, I would like to thank everyone, every individual that has supported me throughout this difficult situation.

“Your prayers, your emotional support, your psychological support is a tremendous [gift] to my heart. That I feel, that I sense, that I know. I do want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you.”

Mr Desronvil’s comments come after he previously told NewsNation he believed fellow jurors were not open to understanding his position in the case.

“I didn’t have any doubts. As I tried to explain different possible theories during deliberation, I kept getting cut off as if I had doubts based on the evidence present,” he said.

“Based on all the physical evidence, key witnesses, and what the prosecution presents, I thought it was enough proof that [Clancy] knew exactly what she was doing and planned.”