Andrea Yates Verdict Overturned - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Kuan · #1 11-09-2005, 08:55 PM

I don't know what to think of this.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory/2980420

Quote:

By RUTH RENDON
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

The 1st Texas Court of Appeals threw out today the capital murder conviction of Clear Lake mom Andrea Yates, who's been serving a life sentence for drowning her children in a bathtub.

GermanStar · #2 11-09-2005, 09:09 PM

I think this situation is best left alone. I don't see what good can come of this.....

Pete Geither · #3 11-09-2005, 09:17 PM

Her kids would probably be happy too if they weren't all dead.

Honus · #4 11-09-2005, 09:27 PM

From the linked article:

"In ordering a new trial, the three-member appeals court cited false testimony by the state’s expert psychiatric witness, who said Yates had patterned her actions after a Law & Order television episode in which a woman drowned her children and was found innocent by reason of insanity. It turned out there was no such episode, and the appellate court said the trial judge erred in not granting a mistrial once it was learned Dr. Park Dietz's testimony was untrue."

Park Dietz is a highly accomplished guy. (link: http://www.jhu.edu/~jhumag/1194web/dietz.html) What was he thinking? Sounds like the appeals court did the right thing. What a mess.

GermanStar · #5 11-09-2005, 09:36 PM

I read the article and I just don't understand these people.

Quote:

Yates' attorney and family were jubilant.

“It’s unbelievable,” defense attorney George Parnham said. “I’m stunned, unbelievably happy.”

Yates' mother, Jutta Kennedy, heard the news by phone from network TV reporters Matt Lauer and Katie Couric.

"I was speechless, shaking, '' Kennedy said. "I thought a decision would take a long time - I was told four to six months.''

Kennedy's usually somber voice was considerably lighter today as she said that her daughter appeared to be well thought of and well taken care of in prison.

"I saw her two weeks ago, and she's getting better. She's able to hold conversations, and yes, she was aware of the appeal."

Yates' husband, a NASA engineer who filed for divorce in July, said today he hadn't heard a ruling had been made. When informed of the reversal, Rusty Yates paused, then said, "It's good news.''

What are they happy about, and why? Scratches head...

peragro · #6 11-10-2005, 01:22 AM

very bizarre. If I had done that and was insane then got better, the first thing I'd want to do is kill myself.