Defense attorney Kevin Reddington is making a bold, last-ditch effort to free Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three children, by seeking to have the charges against her thrown out entirely.
In an appearance on CBS Mornings Wednesday, Reddington announced he will file a motion to dismiss all charges on September 29, arguing that the mistrial declared last week by Superior Court Judge William Sullivan was premature and lacked the legal basis required to retry his client.
The motion hinges on the legal doctrine of “manifest necessity” — the standard that must be met before a judge can declare a mistrial over the objection of a defendant. Reddington contends that Judge Sullivan did not meet that high bar, meaning Clancy should not be subject to a second trial under double jeopardy protections.
A ‘Long-Shot’ But ‘Huge News’
CBS News legal contributor Caroline Polisi described the move as “huge news,” though she cautioned that it remains a “long-shot” to succeed. Still, the implications are stark: if Reddington wins the motion, Clancy would go free.
The filing comes just days after jurors broke their silence following the grueling 38-hour deliberations that ultimately ended in a hung jury, forcing the mistrial.
The Case and the Stalemate
Clancy, a 36-year-old former nurse, is accused of strangling her three young children — 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson, and 8-month-old Callan — with exercise bands at the family’s Duxbury home in January 2023, before attempting to take her own life by slashing her wrists and jumping from a second-story window.
Prosecutors have argued that Clancy meticulously planned the killings while her husband was out picking up takeout. The defense, however, maintains she was suffering from severe postpartum psychosis and was overmedicated at the time, rendering her not criminally responsible.
The mistrial stemmed from a deadlock that several jurors have since described as chaotic. At least three jurors have come forward, detailing screaming matches that erupted in the jury room. They singled out one male juror — an alleged holdout — as “arrogant,” claiming he refused to follow the law as instructed and prevented a near-unanimous verdict.
Reddington’s new motion points to a note the foreperson sent to Judge Sullivan during deliberations, warning that the holdout juror was ignoring the court’s instructions on the law. Reddington argues the judge should have questioned or removed the juror, rather than declaring a mistrial.
Prosecutor’s Choice
Now, Plymouth District Attorney Tim Cruz faces a critical decision: retry Clancy, offer a plea deal, or drop the case. Reddington has made his preference clear over the airwaves, suggesting the DA could reduce the charge to second-degree murder — a move that would spare Clancy a potential first-degree conviction but still carry significant prison time.
“It’s up to Tim,” Reddington said. “He could reduce the charge to second-degree [murder].” But the attorney was blunt about his own stance: “I know enough to know it doesn’t matter what I’d like. All I know is that I’m not ever going to agree this young lady do a day in jail.”
Trump Weighs In
In a separate development, Reddington has admitted he is appealing to President Donald Trump for a presidential pardon — despite the fact that presidents have no authority over state criminal cases. Trump, who has no legal power in this matter, nonetheless commented on the tragedy from the Oval Office last week, calling Clancy’s actions “a horrible thing” and predicting she would ultimately face consequences “in a mental institution or jail.”
Reddington, undeterred by the constitutional limits on presidential power, insisted he would go as far as contacting the “King of England” if it might help his client. Clancy remains confined at Tewksbury State Hospital while Cruz deliberates on the next steps.
The September 29 hearing on the motion to dismiss will be a pivotal moment in a case that has already captured national attention — pitting questions of mental health, criminal responsibility, and the legal system’s handling of a deeply tragic case against one another.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/lindsay-clancys-lawyer-makes-long-shot-move-to-secure-her-freedom