A psychologist has testified that Lindsay Clancy could not understand the “wrongfulness” of killing her three children because she was experiencing serious mental health problems.
Paul Zeizel, testifying for the defence at Clancy’s murder trial on Wednesday, said she was suffering from a mental illness when she killed Callan, Dawson and Cora Clancy in January 2023.
“She was unable to conform her behavior to the rule of law. She had no appreciation for the wrongfulness of her act,” Zeizel said, adding that Clancy had “a mental disease or a defect.”
Clancy, 36, has pleaded not guilty to murder, as her defence argues she has bipolar disorder and was experiencing postpartum psychosis, a rare condition that can occur after childbirth.
Prosecutors allege the former labour and delivery nurse planned the killings and deliberately sent her husband out to collect medicine and dinner before killing the children.
Zeizel told the court he spent more than 35 hours with Clancy and reviewed her medical records.
He said she had experienced paranoia, suicidal thoughts and fears that her children would be taken away.
Prosecutors challenged his assessment, questioning his objectivity and highlighting errors in his report.
If convicted of murder, Clancy faces life in prison without parole. If found not criminally responsible, she would be committed to a state mental health facility.
