Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
After the jury left this morning, the attorneys in Lindsay Clancy's trial discussed the jury instructions with Judge William Sullivan, including a possible instruction about involuntary intoxication because of prescription medication.
Juries in Massachusetts can be instructed about involuntary intoxication if there's evidence a defendant was intoxicated through no fault of their own. The instruction could benefit Clancy's defense that she isn't criminally responsible for murdering her children because she was in a postpartum psychosis and didn't know what she was doing.
Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sprague said the instruction doesn't apply because the general definition of intoxication fits, "which would not just be taking medication as prescribed, but it would be overtaking medication or combining with alcohol or other drugs."
"I think the general definition of intoxication is taking some type of substance, either alcohol, drugs, medication, in excess, and to the point where it's affecting your ability to think and to act and to control your behavior," Sprague said.
Clancy's lawyer Kevin Reddington said the instruction clearly applies.
"I don't know if the government has been listening to the same evidence in this case. This is clearly an involuntary intoxication defense," Reddington said.
Sullivan has not decided if he'll give the instruction.
The discussion lasted 15 minutes. You can watch all of it on my YouTube channel and Facebook page.Jurors heard 20 minutes of testimony this morning before Sullivan recessed them until Friday at 9 a.m. EST.
Closing arguments are expected Monday or Tuesday, then the jury will deliberate.
After the jury left this morning, the attorneys in Lindsay Clancy's trial discussed the jury instructions with Judge William Sullivan, including a possible instruction about involuntary intoxication because of prescription medication.
Juries in Massachusetts can be instructed about involuntary intoxication if there's evidence a defendant was intoxicated through no fault of their own. The instruction could benefit Clancy's defense that she isn't criminally responsible for murdering her children because she was in a postpartum psychosis and didn't know what she was doing.
Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sprague said the instruction doesn't apply because the general definition of intoxication fits, "which would not just be taking medication as prescribed, but it would be overtaking medication or combining with alcohol or other drugs."
"I think the general definition of intoxication is taking some type of substance, either alcohol, drugs, medication, in excess, and to the point where it's affecting your ability to think and to act and to control your behavior," Sprague said.
Clancy's lawyer Kevin Reddington said the instruction clearly applies.
"I don't know if the government has been listening to the same evidence in this case. This is clearly an involuntary intoxication defense," Reddington said.
Sullivan has not decided if he'll give the instruction.
The discussion lasted 15 minutes. You can watch all of it on my YouTube channel and Facebook page.Jurors heard 20 minutes of testimony this morning before Sullivan recessed them until Friday at 9 a.m. EST.
Closing arguments are expected Monday or Tuesday, then the jury will deliberate.
