By Dr. Alex McFarland for TOWNHALL
The mistrial in the Lindsay Clancy case should disturb every American who believes that human life is sacred and that human beings are morally responsible for what they do.
Clancy admitted killing her three young children. The prosecution argued that the killings were deliberate and planned. Prosecutors pointed out she arranged for her husband to leave the house, even checking how long his errands would take, thus creating a window in which she could carry out the killings. Prosecution experts testified that her conduct was consistent with someone who absolutely understood what she was doing.
The defense argued that Clancy was suffering from postpartum psychosis and therefore lacked criminal responsibility. After 38 hours of deliberation, the jury could not reach the unanimous verdict required by Massachusetts law, and the judge declared a mistrial.
Reports indicate the jury was divided 11-1, with most jurors apparently favoring a finding that Clancy was not criminally responsible.
That is not, legally speaking, an acquittal. A retrial remains possible. But culturally, something profoundly troubling has already happened.
