What does everyone think about the Andrea Yates Murder Trial? For those that do not know, she killed her 5 kids by drowning them in their bathtub. The defense claims that she was insane during the time.

Here is a link to info on this:
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/yates/

Whats your take on this?

:(

David

I really don't know about her. I understand the whole post pardum thing but I can't believe it as a total defense. I mean she didn't drown 1 or 2 children but 5. That took sometime and premeditation. Is she insane? Definately, any woman who would drown any child let alone her own it truly nuts!
Now, if anyone has any questions about Florida v.Panitz (the Jerry Springer trial) I might have some info. Marco was in the county with him for 9 months and I met both him and his new wife Elenore. I can say one thing for sure...if I was in his situation I would be very thankful to have Goeff Fieger as my attorney.
Michelle

postpartum psychosis is rare, but very real. It is hard not to let your emotions enter into a situation like this--those beautiful, innocent children--I feel like I don't know enough of the facts to determine if she truly was experiencing post-partum psychosis at the time of the drownings-but I do not dismiss it as a possibility

sherri

I do not buy the insanity part. A woman/man walking in on their spouse having sex with someone else and ends up killing one or both......temporary insanity maybe. But not this. I do not believe in the death penalty though and am afriad that is what she will receive. She needs like with lots of counseling.
Joy

someome asked me what I thopught about the Oanitz trial. I will post my response here since I feel this is the place it belongs. Is Ralf Panitz guilty? I really don't know. His current wife Elenore is a member of mensa with and IQ well above 100. She has a degree in psych. According to Marco, anyone with an IQ that high is not "normal" either. I guess it makes sense,lol. I feel if he is guilty it was not premeditated, but his wife,Elenore was involved. If he is not guilty there is a strong case against his nephew Marcus. Marco stated that while in the county he saw Ralf get pretty mad, and that he has a violent temper. Maybe his genius wife with a psych degree is just a really good liar. Marco trhinks he is guilty, I still am not sure. Geoff Fieger is his attorney, pro bono. I feel that if Gepff didn't thnk he could win he wouldn't have taken the case. Guilty or not Geoff is trying to get Ralf off on either a technicallity or insufficent evidence. With a lawyer like him one never knows what rabbit he'll pull out of his hat. The trail was on court TV put they dropped coverage. Supposidly because Fieger kept interupting with unreal objections. Maybe it's his way of distacting the prosecution and the jury. If I can answer anyohter questions let me know.
Michelle

FED X-i'M CURIOUS-WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON THE ANDREA YATES TRIAL/VERDICT???:hmm:

LOL.. Sherri Called me out.. I was trying to be quiet.. You know.. Start a thread and shut up.. haha..

My not-always-so-humble opinion is this...

I think it was a heinous crime that shocked and saddened so very many people and for good reason. 5 kids dead is hard to rationalize in just about any circumstance, especially by their mother’s hands. But in this case.. I really feel that Andrea was very sick.. Call it Insane, or whatever you want.. I think it is the wrong decision..
I would NOT feel this way if there was any history of child abuse or neglect in this home.. From everything I have read and heard, this was far from the case.. (with Andrea). So.. I totally disagree with the verdict. I might agree with something along the lines of manslaughter and her being institutionalized in a facility designed to help her but not just dumped into the Texas Prison System now with the possibility of execution.
I also would like to mention that just because a jury of her peers found her guilty of capital murder does not mean that they received some concrete evidence that none of the rest of us heard to bring them to that verdict. People should keep in mind that they HAD to deliberate on a set of guidelines.. A, B, C = Guilty. “You must find them guilty because she meets this criteria” or that…. And most importantly.. In Texas, it is VERY HARD to get anywhere with an insanity defense.. She did NOT qualify under Texas law as insane.. But what does that mean? That she wasn’t?? Not at all..
Any way.. I am upset with the verdict.. But, I do think she will get some relief on appeal especially if they hand down the death penalty. (which I hope they won’t)

I think one of the most interesting (and disturbing) things about this entire case is Andrea Yates husband. Something just isn’t right with him.. I would like to hear more facts to see (in my mind) if he is culpable of the end result in any way..

“….and that is all I have to say about that..” (for now :p)

David

Fed_X did you catch the CNN report? Andria's Husband Russell Yates has been under what some people believe as unconstitutional a Gag Order. He has been under suspicion and persecution. He could not legally speak up and defend himself or his family. So he did seem "right" He never had a chance to explain his side. And critisized the media and everyone that judged them for doing so out of thier own narrow ideas.

He did speak to the media and answer questions for about 30 minutes. I thought he did a good job of explaining what his thoughts were and his role in this horrible event. He blames the mental health system for not treating his wife with the proper medications. He never believed Andria was capable of harming thier children but he was aware she was medicaly depressed and was doing everything he coudl to help her.

I had my doubts about him too until I heard him speak out.

Russell and ANdria Doctor spoke out against the Texas legal difiniton of insanity. They believed the jury was not informed
that you can know right from wrong. The issue is how can someone make sane decisions when they are insane? She killed her children because she felt it was the best thing to do for the children. She did not deny it was wrong. SHe did a wrong thing to make a right thing. Isane? l yes.

Fed-X I have to agree with you. This is a horiffic tradegy and it is sad that 5 kids lost their lives exspecally how they did. I have to say that she would have benifited from a more structured mental health enviornment. Treatment for her very obvious mental illiness is imparitive. We all know that there is some honor among convicts that is anyone who hurts kids or rapes is going to need a lot of protection. If they put her in general pop they might as well of just killed her. Those women and mothers are going to hurt her if they get a chance. I personally think that a mental instatution would have been a beter place for her.

This is only a person opinion and I am a mother who could never imagine doing that to anyone EXSPECIALLY my babies. How sad that God had to take these precious angels so early in life.