@meghannmcuniff: The judge in Lindsay Clancy's murder trial declined to declare her not guilty today after prosecutors rested their case.Clancy's lawyer Kevin Reddington asked Judge William Sullivan this morning (Monday, August 17, day 14) to acquit Clancy of murder or alternatively reduce her charges from premeditated murder to second-degree murder. The motion for acquittal is a standard part of criminal trials after prosecutors present their evidence. Judges rarely grant them, and Judge Sullivan didn't grant Clancy's. Reddington told the judge "the evidence that has been presented in this case is overwhelming that this young woman was clearly and unequivocally suffering from a mental disease or defect. That it was occupying her waking hours, her life. That she considered all of her avenues." "She attempted to go to these healthcare providers, using the term loosely. That she she went to these people. She had medication after medication after medication. She was obviously acting ... in a state that was observed by witnesses that in fact that she was suffering from mental disease, a defect, and then ultimately this horrific incident," Reddington said. Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sprague said case law says Reddington must make the request after all evidence is presented, not just the prosecution's evidence. "In this case, as you're aware, defense plans on presenting experts who testify that the defendant was not criminally responsible, and then the Commonwealth will have a rebuttal case with their own experts. So I think the time and place for this, for the motion, would be at the close of all of the evidence, and not now," Sprague said. Reddington, Sprague and Sullivan, who presides in Plymouth County Superior Court, referenced a May 2026 ruling from a Massachusetts appellate court panel that ruled prosecutors failed to disprove the defendant's lack of criminal responsibility due to insanity. "I had an opportunity to take a look at Brunette-Silvera. So, based on that, and based on the standard as described that I have to apply at this point, I'm going to, uh, deny the defendant's motion," the judge said. The case is In Commonwealth v. Manuel Brunette-Silveira (No. 24-P-1351, May 12, 2026). You can watch the entire seven-minute argment on my YouTube channel and Facebook page. #law #crime #court

Meghann Cuniff

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Monday 17 August 2026 18:35:55 GMT