A Massachusetts woman was arrested outside the Plymouth courthouse after allegedly trying to photograph jurors in the Lindsay Clancy triple-murder trial, adding a new complication as the panel remains unable to reach a unanimous verdict.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A 56-year-old Massachusetts woman was arrested outside the courthouse hosting Lindsay Clancy’s triple-murder trial Tuesday after authorities said she allegedly attempted to photograph members of the jury as they left following another day of unsuccessful deliberations.
Dawn Light, of Sutton, Massachusetts, was taken into custody at approximately 3:40 p.m. outside the courthouse in Plymouth, shortly after jurors were dismissed for the day without reaching a verdict.
Massachusetts State Police charged Light with one count of intimidation of a witness, juror, or person furnishing information in connection with criminal proceedings. She is expected to be arraigned Wednesday.
According to a report on the arrest, Light allegedly tried to photograph jurors as they exited the courthouse.
CBS Boston reporter Kristina Rex separately reported that members of the jury allegedly noticed they were being filmed.
The incident immediately raised questions about whether it could affect the already-delicate proceedings. Fox News reported that attorneys for either side could potentially seek a mistrial as a result.
The arrest occurred on the same day the jury told the court it had been unable to reach a unanimous decision after four days of deliberations.
The judge ordered the nine-woman, three-man panel to continue its work despite the apparent impasse. Jurors are expected to return Wednesday for a fifth day of deliberations.
At issue is whether Clancy should be held criminally responsible for the Jan. 24, 2023, deaths of her three children inside the family’s Duxbury home.
Her attorneys do not dispute that Clancy strangled Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and 8-month-old Callan using exercise bands.
The defense instead centers on Clancy’s mental condition at the time of the killings.
Her attorneys maintain that she was suffering from postpartum psychosis and therefore lacked criminal responsibility for what she did.
Prosecutors have rejected that argument.
They contend that Clancy acted deliberately and understood that killing her children was wrong. According to the prosecution’s theory, she sent her husband away from the house to pick up food and medication before separating the children and strangling them individually.
Jurors have five possible verdicts before them: first-degree murder, second-degree murder, manslaughter, not guilty, or not guilty because of a lack of criminal responsibility.
The jury’s inability to agree after four days has heightened the possibility of a hung jury.
Defense attorney Kevin Reddington has already said he would “try it again” if jurors ultimately fail to reach a unanimous verdict.
The alleged attempt to photograph jurors adds another potential issue for the court to address as deliberations continue.
Jurors occupy a protected role in criminal proceedings, and allegations that someone attempted to photograph or film them outside the courthouse can raise concerns about intimidation, outside influence and whether panel members remain able to deliberate without fear or distraction.
The Clancy proceedings have already generated several unusual controversies beyond the central questions surrounding the deaths of the three children.
Vanity Fair dropped an essay from a freelance reporter after the journalist was seen smiling, posing and winking toward a courtroom camera during the trial.
Another development followed testimony from prosecution psychiatrist Dr. Avram Mack.
Mack testified that Clancy remained capable of understanding that killing her children was wrong. He later resigned from Nemours Children’s Health, although the hospital did not publicly say that his departure was connected to his testimony or the Clancy case.
The latest controversy now directly involves the jury responsible for deciding Clancy’s fate.
Authorities have accused Light of conduct involving jurors at the precise point when the panel is struggling to resolve one of the central disputes in the case: whether Clancy’s mental state legally relieved her of criminal responsibility for killing her children.
No verdict had been reached when jurors left the courthouse Tuesday.
Whether the alleged filming incident results in a mistrial request, affects further deliberations or produces any additional court action remains unresolved as the jury prepares to return for another day of deliberations Wednesday.
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