The jury in the Lindsay Clancy trial was sent home Thursday after a tense day in court, with the judge issuing a firm warning about reasonable doubt. Deliberations are set to resume Friday morning, marking a seventh day of slow-moving discussions.
Defense attorney Kevin Reddington demanded one juror be removed, claiming the panelist allegedly refuses to follow the law on reasonable doubt. The jury foreperson reportedly sent a note stating, “there is one juror who refuses to listen to the law that you’ve given him or her on reasonable doubt.”
Reddington argued passionately in court, saying the judge’s initial instruction was not enough to address the issue. He warned that a mistrial could result if the juror continues to disregard the court’s guidance.
Judge William Sullivan disagreed with the defense’s request and kept the jury intact. The panel, made up of nine women and three men, has now spent nearly 40 hours deliberating over six days.
In a surprising move, the judge ordered the jury to return Friday, the day before Labor Day weekend. The slow pace has left many wondering what’s causing the delay.
A courtroom sketch artist reported hearing Reddington mutter, “Screw it,” just before the jury was instructed again. The comment came after a heated exchange between the lawyer and the judge.
The defense’s plea to remove the juror was denied, and deliberations continued. Reddington expressed frustration, saying, “If we come back here in half an hour with a mistrial because of the juror who has just spurned the instructions of this court, that’s a shame.”
As the jury heads into another day of discussions, the question remains: will they reach a verdict, or is a mistrial on the horizon?
