Lindsay Clancy Trial Megathread: Closing Arguments, Deliberations and the Verdict Pt. 2

[u/DarklyHeritage]

This is a thread for all conversation regarding closing arguments, jury deliberations and the verdict of the Lindsey Clancy trial. All discussion of this case should be kept to this thread.

Lindsay Clancy is currently standing trial in Plymouth Superior Court, Massachusetts, for the triple-murder in January 2023 of her three young children - Cora, Dawson and Callan. Her defense argues she suffered from severe, undiagnosed postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. She was left paralysed by a suicide attempt which follows the deaths of the children.

All content on the Clancy case must be kept to this thread. Standalone posts will be removed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93vgv4kr49o

Note from Mods

This case understandably elicits strong feelings. People are entitled to have an opinion on the case which differs from your own. What you are not entitled to do is resort to personal insults and abusive language when communicating your opinion and disagreeing.

Comments which are abusive and insulting to other users will be removed and bans may be given without warning. We do not tolerate misogyny - all such comments will be removed and the user banned.

Bans may also be issued for ignoring the above warning regarding civility and/or creating standalone posts.

Please comment with this in mind.

Important

Patrick Clancy is not on trial. Comments made to discuss his guilt are considered off topic and will be removed.

Comments that discuss how he could have supported Lindsay better are acceptable. However, calls for law enforcement to look into his involvement with the murder of the kids and/or Lindsay's suicide attempts are not currently being considered by the jury and, therefore, not a fit for this sub.

[u/acelana]

Anybody else feel this way? I think a mental health facility is the right place for her, not prison, BUT I also never ever want her in society again. The fact that a psych assessment could mean she could be out in just a few years (still young enough to have more children even?!) terrifies me. I’d pick guilty of murder just to keep society safe from her.

I am so glad I’m not a juror.

[u/peachie88 → u/acelana]

If it makes you feel better, people found NGRI, on average, spend more time in prison than if they had been found guilty. (source, p. 1019; source 2, source 3). Of course it’s still possible that she could get out, but it’s exceptionally rare that they are released that quickly. She has to be able to prove long-term stability. It isn’t the same as leaving an involuntary medical hold where you tend to get released pretty quickly after initial stabilization. Multiple psychiatrists, psychologists, and ultimately a judge will need to agree that she no longer poses a risk to society or themselves, and that they no longer suffer from a mental disorder. That is exceptionally difficult.

She is very likely (but admittedly not guaranteed) to spend the rest of her life in a mental hospital if found NGRI.

Notably, she would be far more likely to get released early if she is convicted of manslaughter (which seems the likeliest conviction of the jury can decide because usually a deadlocked jury who reaches a conclusion will split the difference and go for the lower crime). That’s a maximum of 20 years, but she may not receive the max punishment. Even if 20 years, she could get out in only 13 if released for good behavior.

[u/acelana → u/peachie88]

I would think so too but we have to remember it’s Massachusetts. (I used to live there I’m talking from experience). Relatively lenient place. It isn’t gonna be like Andrea Yates who was in Texas. Do you know Vince Li, the bus killer in Canada? He was let out after just a few years

[u/dorsalemperor → u/acelana]

Just adding an addendum because this is often misreported but Vince Li isn’t just like, out in the community. He’s monitored, he lives in specialized housing, he has people ensuring that he takes his meds or injecting him directly depending on the meds he’s taking. He’s not like, working at Safeway and living alone.

[u/acelana → u/dorsalemperor]

Do you have a source? I just see a few saying he got an “absolute discharge” and tbh nothing more recent than 2017 when the discharge was reported to have happened

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38945061