A North Carolina mother accused of killing her 3-year-old son and attempting to murder her 2-year-old son is planning to use an insanity defense in her trial. Andrea Faust, 41, is charged with murder and attempted murder in the February 12 incident at her home in Durham, North Carolina. Her attorneys have filed notice that they intend to rely on defenses of not guilty by reason of insanity and diminished capacity.
The case is drawing parallels to the trial of Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts woman who is accused of killing her three children in 2023. Clancy's defense argued that she suffered from postpartum psychosis, while prosecutors argued that she understood her actions and acted deliberately. Retired Massachusetts Superior Judge Jack Lu said that he expects similar defenses to be raised more often as the Clancy case draws national attention to postpartum mental health conditions.
Faust's attorney, Nicole Galinsky, said that a defense expert has concluded that Faust could not distinguish right from wrong during the alleged murders. Galinsky noted that Faust and Clancy were both struggling with similar issues, including hallucinations and hospitalizations, and that both women were seeking help from doctors who were not taking their concerns seriously.
Judge Lu said that society and the legal system have not fully understood the effects of postpartum mental illness on behavior and criminal responsibility. He noted that mental health defenses are often unsuccessful, but that the Clancy trial has challenged his own understanding of what a person might experience.
Faust was found incapable of proceeding to trial in March due to concerns about her mental health and safety, but was later deemed capable of proceeding as of May 21. Her attorney said that another evaluation will examine her mental state at the time of the alleged offenses.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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