It was testimony that nearly stopped the Lindsay Clancy murder trial in its tracks.
Forensic psychologist Kirk Heilbrun testified about his interview with Lindsay Clancy at Tewksbury State Hospital on Monday, referencing questions he asked her about suicide being a mortal sin.
Defense Attorney Kevin Reddington objected.
This is not the first time a mention of religion has interrupted the trial. It happened as a prosecutor cross-examined Patrick Clancy’s mother just last week.
“Are you an active member in the Catholic church?” Prosecutor Shanan Buckingham had asked Clancy.
“You are aware that Murder is a mortal sin?”
Lindsay Clancy is on trial for the murder of her three young children.
Her lawyer is mounting an insanity defense, claiming she was suffering from postpartum psychosis, was wrongly medicated, and was not criminally responsible for their deaths.
But after this exchange, he asked the judge to throw the closely watched trial out.
“I have to move for a mistrial reluctantly. This is intentional misconduct on the part of the prosecution,” he said.
“I don’t think he was intentionally trying to inflame the jury. Or cause an issue in this case, I know I certainly wasn’t. I didn’t ask a question about religion. That would invoke that kind of response,” Prosecutor Jennifer Sprague said.
The judge did not declare a mistrial, but he had strong words for the prosecution.
“The Commonwealth, I’m going to strongly, in the strongest language: talk to him and let him know he can’t go into that,” Judge William Sullivan said.
Heilbrun told the jury he believed Clancy did not have acute psychosis when she killed her three children but rather took their lives so they wouldn’t “suffer” after she took her own life.
Testimony resumes in the morning.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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