A 12-person jury tasked with deciding the fate of alleged murderer Lindsay Clancy has ended a fourth day of deliberations without reaching a verdict.

The Massachusetts courtroom heard the jury was still unable to reach a unanimous decision on whether Clancy was guilty of murdering her three children in January 2023.

Judge William Sullivan has commended the jury for their efforts during the five week trial and encouraged them to continue deliberations tomorrow.

“I know that this was a long trial...because of that I’m asking you to go back out, keeping in mind all of the instructions that I gave you to go out and continue your deliberations at this time.”

The jury of nine women and three men will return to the courtroom tomorrow to recommence at hour 24 of their discussions.

The high-profile case has sent shock waves around the world by televising more than 80 witnesses and 300 evidence exhibits that outline gruesome details of the day Clancy is accused of strangling her three young children with exercise bands before attempting to take her own life.

Clancy’s defence attorney Kevin Reddington is not disputing the alleged murders, rather arguing that Clancy was suffering from post-partum psychosis and had been failed by the medical system after receiving insufficient help in the eight months following the birth of her youngest child.

Massachusetts state prosecution is attempting to have Clancy found guilty on three counts of first-degree murder representing the intentional and premeditated nature of her actions.

If the jury finds Clancy guilty of first-degree murder she will be sentenced to life in prison with no opportunity for parole.

However, if they decide she cannot be held criminally responsible for her actions due to her state of mind at the time of the murders, she will instead be placed in a psychiatric hospital.

The jury may also reach a middle ground where they find her guilty of second-degree murder, which infers no premeditation, or manslaughter, which shows she acted unintentionally.

Clancy, who is paralysed from the waist down after falling from a second-story window after the alleged murders, remained stony-faced next to her attorney during the jury’s announcement at the end of the six-hour day.

Defence attorney Reddington told reporters outside the Plymouth Superior Court that “all 12 jurors have to agree. So far, they have not.”

“I don’t know if that’s a good sign, a bad sign or any sign.”

If the jury cannot reach a unanimous verdict in a reasonable amount of time, Judge Sullivan may be forced to declare a mistrial where the trial is concluded with no resolution.

A mistrial would present the opportunity for the prosecution to call for a retrial.

Due to the high-profile nature of the case, it could be difficult to find a new round of impartial jurors which may encourage strategic requests by the prosecution such as moving a retrial to a different legal jurisdiction and the sequestering of a new jury.

If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, phone 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Crisis Care Helpline on 1800 199 008.

Lifeline: 13 11 14.