Legal expert explains mental illness defense in Clancy trial

Lindsay Clancy, 35, fatally strangled her three children—5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson, and 8-month-old Callan—in January 2023 in Massachusetts.

Her defense attorney Kevin Reddington argues she was overprescribed high dosages of psychiatric medications and had undiagnosed postpartum anxiety and bipolar disorder, rendering her unable to distinguish right from wrong.

Prosecutors must prove Clancy understood and appreciated the wrongfulness of her actions, not just knew they were wrong, according to criminal defense attorney Elyse Hershon.

On Day 3 of the trial in Plymouth Superior Court, Reddington presented Clancy's personal diary of prescribed psychiatric medications leading up to the killings.

Under Massachusetts law, once a mental illness defense is raised for lack of criminal responsibility, the prosecution bears the burden of proving criminal responsibility.