US mother begged for help before her children's killings, mother-in-law testifies

What the report says

At a murder trial in Massachusetts, Lindsay Clancy’s former mother-in-law testified that the defendant was “begging for help” before the deaths of her three children. Susan Clancy told the court that Lindsay Clancy had become increasingly anxious, sleepless and withdrawn, and described her as a caring mother who was trying to get medical help. The testimony added to defence claims that Clancy’s mental state deteriorated after the birth of her youngest child.

BBC World News reported that Lindsay Clancy has admitted killing her daughter Cora, 5, and sons Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months, but has pleaded not guilty to murder charges. Her lawyers say she was suffering from postpartum psychosis, a rare and serious mental illness that can emerge after childbirth, while prosecutors argue the killings were deliberate. Clancy has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder.

Family members have given evidence over several days about changes they say followed the baby’s birth. Clancy’s mother testified that her daughter had once long wanted a large family, then began struggling with sleep and told relatives she was “really sick.” Another family member said Clancy had described thoughts of harming the children in the month before their deaths. Prosecutors rested their case after three weeks of testimony, and the defence has begun presenting its own witnesses.