Lindsay Clancy's Lawyer Wants to Review Dissenting Juror's History
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
Lindsay Clancy's defense attorney is requesting a judge to initiate an investigation into the sole juror who stood firm in the case, which ended in a mistrial this month. As reported earlier this month by investigators from our sister station NBC10 Boston, this juror had a history of domestic violence allegations and was under a restraining order at the time of being selected for the murder trial. Legal experts told us that these revelations raised doubts about whether the juror answered their questionnaire truthfully. Now, Kevin Reddington, Clancy's attorney, wants the court to review that document, request phone records to see if the juror used their cellphone during deliberations, and even question them under oath. According to case records, Judge William Sullivan has not yet ruled on the motion but has reserved the memorandum and evidence attached to Reddington's argument for a 'limited inquiry' into the juror. A police report obtained by NBC10 Boston revealed that the juror's 13-year-old nephew called 911 in 2021 after claiming his uncle grabbed his wife by the neck and threw her against a dresser. Court records show that the couple divorced after the incident, and the criminal charge was dismissed. NBC10 Boston did not name the juror in our original report, but their attorney has since publicly identified him as Michael Desronvil. Investigators also found that the same teenage nephew obtained a restraining order last year after alleging that the juror pushed him to the ground and repeatedly punched him in the face. In his sworn statement for the restraining order, the teenager wrote that his uncle told him, 'You ruined my life' for calling the police, adding, 'You’ve been asking for it for a long time.' Court records indicate that the juror was found not guilty of the criminal charges, meaning all records related to that case are sealed. However, the restraining order was still in effect when he was selected for the high-profile Clancy trial, before expiring last month. Legal experts told us that the details raised questions about the juror's confidential questionnaire, which asks if anyone has been arrested, charged with a crime, or notified of a court order. Reddington told reporters on Monday that he would speak in court and argue why the juror's records should be reviewed. 'People can vilify me all they want and say I’m making claims about the juror. I’m not making claims about the juror. I’m talking about the system,' Reddington said. So far, the only statement from the juror, released through his attorney, is that he had 'no doubt' Clancy should be convicted of murder. Meanwhile, an online fundraiser titled 'Support the Juror' is approaching $400,000 in donations. NBC10 Boston reached out to the juror's attorney, Edward Andrew Paltzik, regarding the new motion filed concerning his client, but has not yet received a response. We also contacted Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz, who has not announced whether he plans to retry the case. A spokesperson for Cruz has not provided a response. The motion regarding the juror's records will be part of a highly watched hearing scheduled for September 29 in Plymouth Superior Court. 'Who knew what and when did they know it?' said Michael Coyne, NBC10's chief legal analyst. 'What was checked in those boxes? What should have been checked in those boxes? Those questions are essential to answer.'
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
