What the ‘dynamite charge’ means for the Lindsay Clancy jury

What is the Tuey-Rodriguez instruction, aka ‘dynamite charge,’ given in Lindsay Clancy’s trial?

After the jury in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy twice reported that they were unable to reach consensus in their deliberations, the judge issued a special instruction. Here’s what it means.

WCVBPhil Tenser

The present jury is not likely to break the deadlock. Some die-hard jurors are refusing to let a provably guilty child-killer off the hook while others who are staunch feminists see infanticide as little worse than abortion.

The “dynamite” is the last chance to avoid a mistrial. The so-called Tuey–Rodriguez charge amounts to a judge essentially pouting with his lower lips in court in deference to the murder defendant’s mental health.

Given the evidence, arguments, and instructions heard by the jury.