Watch Live: Lindsay Clancy trial testimony ends early as defense winds down case

Testimony in Lindsay Clancy's murder trial ended after just one witness Thursday before the jury was sent home for the day. The defense is winding down its case, and attorneys are remaining inside Plymouth Superior Court to prepare instructions for jurors when deliberations begin.

You can watch testimony when court is in session live on CBS News Boston in the embedded video and on YouTube. 

Judge William Sullivan is overseeing the trial in Plymouth Superior Court. He told jurors at the start of the day that Thursday was expected to be a shorter day of testimony. One defense witness was on the stand before Sullivan sent jurors home just after 10:30 a.m.

The judge thanked jurors for their patience, saying Friday "will be a longer day than today."

Clancy, 36, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the deaths of her three children, 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson and 8-month-old Callan, in their Duxbury home on Jan. 24, 2023.  

Defense attorney Kevin Reddington was nearing the end of his case heading into the day. He's attempted to show that Clancy should not be held criminally responsible for the murders because she was overmedicated and suffering from postpartum psychosis. 

Prosecutors Jennifer Sprague and Shanan Buckingham have the option to call rebuttal witnesses before the trial shifts to closing arguments and deliberations. The prosecutors allege that Clancy planned the murders before faking a suicide attempt.

Clancy admits to killing her children, but a psychologist testified for the defense that she heard a male voice in her head ordering her to do it. 

Mass General Brigham chaplain testifies

Sheila Cavanaugh was called as the first witness of the day and was only on the stand for about 20 minutes.

Cavanaugh has worked as a chaplain at Brigham and Women's Hospital for seven years.

She met with Clancy starting the day after she admitted to killing her children. Cavanaugh said Clancy was intubated as she was hospitalized after jumping out a window at her Duxbury home. She later met with Clancy again on Jan. 31, 2023 when she was able to speak.

Cavanaugh said Clancy's emotional state was neutral. She said the first thing Clancy said was "I am so glad my children are safe."

"I replied theologically to Lindsay. I said, 'Lindsay, your children are safe. They're safe in heaven with God.' And I held her hand throughout that conversation and we prayed for them," Cavanaugh said.

Reddington asked what other conversations with Clancy she recalled.

"She alluded to having heard a voice. And the voice, according to Lindsay, told her that if she did not follow the command, neither she nor her children would be safe," Cavanaugh said. "She alluded to the fact that it was a male voice, and it was persistent."

A previous witness testified that Clancy said a male voice in her head ordered her to kill her children.

On cross-examination, the prosecutor highlighted that Cavanaugh took detailed notes about her discussions with Clancy, but never wrote that she had said she heard a voice in her head.

Cavanaugh finished her testimony after about 20 minutes.

Judge questions jurors individually 

Before court started for the day, attorneys met at sidebar with Judge Sullivan.

Then, jurors were called in one at a time in the order they are seated in the jury box. Each juror was asked questions, raising their right hand when doing so.

It is not clear why jurors were questioned. 

Lindsay Clancy supporters in pink

Before the courthouse opened Thursday morning, dozens of women dressed in pink came out to support Lindsay Clancy.

The women came from as far away as Florida, Tennessee and New York to call for improved postpartum healthcare for mothers and better mental health treatment.

"Since Lindsay wasn't helped on a mental health level, that in maybe some support today that she can see that women will stand with her, and we've got her and we will be her foundation for her," said Angel Kinsolving of Land O'Lakes, Florida.

"I hope that Lindsay knows that we're here for her," said Valery Rockwell, a mental health worker from Plymouth, Massachusetts. "I'm really upset about the mental health system and how we don't communicate with each other and how that really put her in danger and it's heartbreaking to see what she's suffering right now and so many women in the world go through this."

"I'm here to support her as well as all the mental health system workers who don't know much about this and can help women in general," Rockwell told reporters.

Lindsay Clancy trial

Clancy remains paralyzed from that night and attends court in a wheelchair. 

On Wednesday, Dr. Paul Zeizel completed his testimony. He is a psychologist who has met extensively with Clancy. Judge Sullivan also ruled Wednesday that a TikTok user who worked at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, will not be allowed to testify. Court then ended for the day earlier than expected due to an "unforeseen circumstance."  

If convicted of first-degree murder, Clancy faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. If found not criminally responsible for the deaths of her children, she will be sent to a state psychiatric hospital in Massachusetts.  

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, you can reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. You can also chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline here.

For more information about mental health care resources and support, the National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or email info@nami.org.