Lindsay Clancy trial: Prosecutors continue rebuttal

Lindsay Clancy's defense attorney Kevin Reddington attempted to push back on Monday against a prosecution expert who has testified that, in his opinion, the Massachusetts mother did not appear to be affected by postpartum psychosis when she killed her three children.

Forensic psychiatrist Avram Mack, whom prosecutors first called to the witness stand Friday, has at times refused to answer Reddington's questions during the defense's cross examination, and Judge William Sullivan has intervened multiple times.

"It's your understanding from reviewing her medical records that Lindsay never indicated that she was not participating in reality, that she was in a disassociated state, that she was out of touch with reality -- you're telling this jury you never saw that?" Reddington asked.

"I don't see that as a sign, strictly speaking, of psychosis, Mack said. "It may have been in some cases, but I don't see any signs of psychosis or delusions."

After a heated back-and-forth concerning how postpartum psychosis might manifest in some patients, Mack asked, "Are you referring to postpartum psychosis and illness? Or the findings of psychosis and somebody's postpartum?"

Reddington returned a sharp rebuttal.

"I'm asking you about Lindsay Clancy... the young lady that is sitting right here that you're testifying against in front of this jury that she is responsible for the death of her children,” answered Reddington.

Prosecutors are now re-directing Mack.

Prosecutors in Lindsay Clancy's murder trial are set to call a series of expert witnesses Monday, as they attempt to push back on the defense claim that the Massachusetts mother was in the throes of postpartum psychosis when she killed her three children.

The defense rested its case on Friday after calling 10 witnesses, including members of Clancy's immediate family and a series of medical experts, across one week of testimony.

Prosecutors plan to call a total of three medical experts in these final days of trial--the first of whom was called to the witness stand Friday-- as part of a rebuttal case, before jurors can hear closing arguments, which could begin as early as Tuesday.

Several members of Lindsay Clancy’s family have testified at her murder trial including her sister, mother, ex-husband, ex-father-in-law and ex-mother-in-law.

Lindsay Clancy's murder trial has drawn attention to the distinction between postpartum psychosis and the more common postpartum depression.

Postpartum psychosis is a rare but serious medical emergency characterized by severe, rapid onset psychiatric episodes such as mania, depression, delusions or hallucinations. It can have rapid onset in the days or weeks after birth, research shows.

Symptoms of postpartum depression include withdrawing from loved ones, crying more than usual, feeling worried or overly anxious, feeling anger, doubting your ability to take care of your baby and thinking about harming yourself or your baby, according to the CDC.

Postpartum psychosis is far less common than postpartum depression. It affects roughly 1 to 2 mothers per 1,000 childbirths, according to estimates from a 2017 systematic review in the journal BMC Psychiatry.