PLYMOUTH, Mass. (Court TV) — Lindsay Clancy’s defense attorney sparred with prosecutors over evidence they plan to introduce at trial, calling the Commonwealth’s strategy “reprehensible.”
Lindsay Clancy, 35, has admitted through her attorney that she killed her three young children — ages 5, 3, and 7 months — before cutting herself and jumping from a second-story window in the family’s home. The defendant’s attorney has emphasized that his client had no idea what she was doing was wrong at the time because she was suffering from postpartum psychosis.
Lindsay Clancy appears in court on July 23, 2026. (Court TV)
After four days of jury selection, a panel of 18 was seated on Thursday. Moments later, the attorneys gathered for a last-minute motions hearing to discuss a request filed by the victims’ father.
Patrick Clancy filed a motion asking Judge William Sullivan to block public viewing and access to some of the evidence prosecutors intend to introduce at trial. Among the evidence Patrick Clancy wants sealed is his 911 call after finding his wife and his children, all pictures of the children — including those from before they were killed — and his children’s clothing.
“He recognizes, and I recognize on his behalf, that he has no authority, no standing and no intention of suggesting to this Court or to the attorneys how to try their case, how to conduct direct or cross-examination, and perhaps, most importantly, what evidence or exhibits should be introduced at trial,” Patrick Clancy’s attorney, David Meier, explained. The motion does not seek to limit what the jury sees — only what is available for public view.
Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sprague responded that the 911 call is already a matter of public record, and noted that photos of the children when they were alive have already appeared in the media.
“Let’s call a spade a spade, Judge,” Lindsay Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, said. “I have indicated repeatedly that we stipulate to every piece of evidence they want. What I can’t fathom is the District Attorney’s intent to put a circus in front of this jury that’s calculated just to inflame the passions of the jury.”
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Reddington supported Patrick Clancy’s motion to seal the evidence. “He is trying hard to move on with his life,” he said. “They are divorced, he’s remarried, he has a family…I think it’s reprehensible the way the government is trying this case.”
Sprague leaped up to respond, saying, “I understand why defense counsel would want to brush past what happened to these children, whitewash away what happened and focus on something else.”
Lindsay Clancy wipes away tears after a hearing on July 23, 2026. (Court TV)
At that point, Sullivan interjected: “Here’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to end that now.”
Reddington also asked Sullivan to limit the number of witnesses the prosecution plans to have testify, saying having so many first responders and medical professionals testify is redundant and needlessly time-consuming.
“The Commonwealth did not choose the number of victims; the defendant did,” Sprague said. “The Commonwealth did not choose the ages of the victims; the defendant did. The Commonwealth did not choose the horrific nature in which they died; the defendant did. It’s not the Commonwealth putting on a circus or a parade; it’s the Commonwealth presenting evidence in this case to prove that the defendant killed those children in the manner in which they were killed. Now, if the defense would like us to reduce some of these witnesses, that would mean not talking about one of the children. So if he would like to tell me which of these children don’t matter —”
Sullivan cut Sprague off again and recessed the hearing, saying he would take the issues under advisement.
As the hearing ended, Lindsay Clancy wiped away tears at the defense table.
Opening statements are scheduled to begin on Monday morning.
