Lindsay Clancy’s lawyer has urged Donald Trump to intervene in the Massachusetts case after her murder trial ended in a mistrial, saying presidential involvement could help bring the “tragic case” to a resolution.
Kevin Reddington said he would ask a court to dismiss the charges against Clancy at a hearing on September 29, arguing that a retrial should be barred on double-jeopardy grounds.
The trial ended on September 4 after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict following more than seven days of deliberations. Clancy remains accused of killing her three children — five-year-old Cora, three-year-old Dawson and eight-month-old Callan — at the family home in Duxbury on January 24, 2023.
Her defence argued that she was not criminally responsible because she was suffering from postpartum psychosis and had been prescribed multiple psychiatric medications. Prosecutors maintained that she had planned the killings and understood the difference between right and wrong.
Reddington said his proposed motion would argue there had been no “manifest necessity” for the mistrial. He has claimed that one juror acknowledged having doubts but refused to apply the judge’s instructions on reasonable doubt.
“If I could reach out to the king of England and ask him for help, I would on this case,” Reddington told CBS Mornings, explaining why he had appealed to Mr Trump despite the president’s limited powers over state criminal cases.
“The fact that the president of the United States made the comments that he did tells me that he is aware of the case,” he said. “I also know that he’s an individual that is surrounded by very, very smart people and can very easily say to one of them: ‘Can you look into this for me and see what it’s all about?’”
He added: “Trickling down to Tim Cruz, hopefully resolving the case.”
Mr Trump previously described the killings as a “horrible, horrible thing” and said Clancy would face a price, such as “a mental institution or jail or something”. He also acknowledged that another trial was possible.
Reddington said he had not heard from the White House but would welcome contact between the president and Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz. Asked whether such intervention would be appropriate, he replied: “If it helps resolve this tragic case, I don’t really care.”
The president can pardon federal offences but does not have the power to pardon a state charge such as the case brought against Clancy in Massachusetts. Prosecutors have not yet announced whether they intend to seek a retrial.
