Defense psychiatrist Phillip Resnick attributed Clancy's conduct to psychosis, while Commonwealth psychiatrist Avram Mack diagnosed a major depressive episode and opined that she retained the capacities required for criminal responsibility. Cross-examination addressed treatment records, postpartum timing, and evaluation methods.
Full day summary
Defense psychiatrist Phillip Resnick and Commonwealth psychiatrist Avram Mack offered differing diagnoses and criminal-responsibility opinions. Resnick testified remotely that Clancy had bipolar II disorder with severe depression and was psychotic at the time of the killings. He attributed her inability to conform her conduct to law to command hallucinations and a delusion of influence. He said she understood that killing a child was ordinarily illegal but believed, through distorted thinking, that she was acting morally for her children.
Resnick qualified his use of postpartum psychosis because the killings occurred eight months after childbirth. He described MMPI results as showing no symptom faking, not as establishing general truthfulness. The judge instructed jurors that Clancy's evaluation statements could inform expert opinions about her mental condition but could not establish the facts stated or specified elements of murder. On cross-examination, Jennifer Sprague questioned Resnick about undisclosed harmful impulses, postpartum timing, and Tewksbury records describing clinical stability and no observable psychosis. Three record sections were admitted. Resnick maintained his opinion, and the defense declined redirect.
Mack diagnosed a major depressive episode, probably within major depressive disorder, and said the available information did not support mania, hypomania, or psychosis. He interpreted several suggested psychotic features as concerns rather than fixed false beliefs. Although he found a mental disease or defect, he opined that Clancy retained substantial capacity to appreciate wrongfulness and conform her conduct to law, citing her interactions and organized actions.
Kevin Reddington challenged Mack's methods, postpartum experience, and interpretation of Clancy's medication reluctance. Mack acknowledged interviewing no collateral contacts and conducting a joint interview with Dr. Heilbrun, but said he understood their opinions to differ. Testimony stopped for the weekend, with Commonwealth rebuttal scheduled to continue Monday.
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