Judge says he must declare mistrial in Clancy trial

A judge declared a mistrial in the high-profile case of an American woman who killed her three young children.

Judge William Sullivan declared a mistrial after the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict in the case of Lindsay Clancy and an appeals court rejected a last-minute bid by the defence to have a juror replaced.

After seven days of deliberations the 12-member Massachusetts jury was unable to reach a unified decision, as required in criminal proceedings in the United States.

Eleven jurors were in favor of finding the 36-year-old Ms Clancy not guilty by reason of insanity, but they were opposed by a single holdout.

"At this point, I'm going to declare that the jury is deadlocked, and I'm going to declare a mistrial," Judge William Sullivan said.

Prosecutors must decide now whether to try the case again with a new jury.