Lindsay Clancy speaks to judge for first time during murder trial

Lindsay Clancy speaks to judge for first time during murder trial; Result could shorten case

PLYMOUTH, Mass. —

Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts mother accused of murdering her three children in 2023, spoke in court Tuesday for the first time since the start of her trial.

At the start of the day, she answered several questions from Judge William Sullivan with brief, respectful acknowledgements as her defense entered into stipulation agreements with the prosecution on several points.

For example, when the judge asked whether she understood that the stipulations would give up her right to confront the relevant witnesses, Clancy responded, “Yes, your honor.”

Video below: Clancy questioned in court

Jurors were not present for the discussion and the stipulated facts were not made public until after the court’s lunch break. When jurors returned to the room for the afternoon session, Sullivan read the agreements aloud to the jury.

Each of the three stipulations included facts about toxicology testing related to Clancy’s three children, Callan, Cora and Dawson.

Her lawyer said this agreement can do away with the prosecution’s presentation of witnesses testifying to the chain of custody related to evidence and expedite the case.

Video below: Judge speaks to jury about stipulations

Legal analyst James Barretto, a retired district court judge, agreed the move is likely to shorten the trial.

“He made it clear that he wasn’t relieving the Commonwealth of its obligation to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she’s guilty of murder by means of one of the probably two theories and its obligation to prove that she was sane when she allegedly committed these acts. So he’s doing this just to shorten the trial, and it’s on relatively non-controversial items,” Barretto said.

Also Tuesday, jurors heard detailed testimony about Clancy’s injuries and blood evidence found in or around the family’s home.

Background of the Clancy case:Lindsay Clancy faces three murder charges in the 2023 deaths of her children, Cora, Dawson and Callan.She also jumped from a second-floor window, leaving her partially paralyzed.In a civil case, Lindsay Clancy alleges a “catastrophic failure” of multiple medical providers in diagnosing and treating her psychiatric condition.Her trial began on July 20. Although her legal team offered to stipulate to the deaths of the children, she has pleaded not guilty.She is being held at Tewksbury State Hospital.The jury is made up of 12 women and six men. They will not know until the presentation of the case is concluded who will deliberate and who will be an alternate.

This case involves issues of mental health. If you or someone you know needs help, you can talk with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or sending a text message to 988, or you can chat online here.