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Metropolis Reality Forums Ť Court overturns Yates convictions ť

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   Court overturns Yates convictions

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Topic: Court overturns Yates convictions (Read 559 times)

Rhune
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Court overturns Yates convictions
« on: Jan 6^th, 2005, 11:44am »

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Court overturns Yates convictions
False testimony cited in case of woman who drowned her kids
Thursday, January 6, 2005 Posted: 12:23 PM EST (1723 GMT)

(CNN) -- A Texas appeals court in Houston on Thursday ordered a new trial for Andrea Yates, the woman who confessed to drowning her five children in a bathtub, citing the false testimony of a prosecution witness.

During her March 2002 sentencing, a jury rejected Yates' insanity defense and she was convicted in the deaths of three of her five children. She was sentenced to life in prison.

Her attorneys argued that she suffered from postpartum psychosis, and she had a well-documented history of postpartum depression.

The Texas First Court of Appeals ruled that the conviction should be reversed because an expert witness for the state, Dr. Park Dietz, presented false testimony when he said Yates may have been influenced by an episode of the "Law & Order" television program. No such episode had ever aired.

Yates, now 40, apparently was a fan of the show and watched regularly.

The doctor, who worked as consultant for the NBC program, testified during Yates' trial that there was an episode dealing with a woman suffering from postpartum depression who drowned her children in the bathtub and was ruled to be insane.

He suggested that Yates may have been inspired to kill her children because of the show.

In its appeals, the defense said it contacted the producers of the show, who said such an episode was never shown.

The appeals court ruling found that Dietz did not intentionally lie and the prosecution did not knowingly use false testimony.

The court, however, ruling reversed "the trial court's judgment" and remanded the case for further proceedings, the ruling said. Yates' lawyers could ask that their client receive bail pending a new trial.

The prosecution may ask a higher court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, to overturn the decision from the Texas 1st Court of Appeals.

On June 20, 2001, Yates confessed to police that she drowned her children in a bathtub because she had been a bad mother who hopelessly damaged them.

Eventually she was convicted for the drownings of her 6-month-old daughter Mary, and her sons Noah, 7, and John, 5. The charges did not include the deaths of her two other sons, Paul, 3, and Luke, 2.

The difference between a verdict of guilty and one of not guilty by reason of insanity in the Yates trial hinged on one key issue: whether Yates knew what she was doing when she drowned the children was wrong.

Both the defense and prosecution agreed Yates is mentally ill, but prosecutors convinced the jury that she was aware that what she was doing was wrong.

Under Texas law, defendants can be declared not guilty by reason of insanity only if it is determined they did not know right from wrong at the time of the crime.

The case stirred new debate over the legal standard for mental illness and whether postpartum depression is properly recognized. Women's groups had harshly criticized prosecutors for pushing for the death penalty.

During her trial, the defense called an expert on postpartum depression in an attempt to show that Yates posed no danger to society.

Yates' husband Russell Yates accused the court system of victimizing his wife after the medical community had mistreated her by not recognizing how sick she was and not giving her proper treatment.

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Rhune
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Re: Court overturns Yates convictions
« Reply #1 on: Jan 6^th, 2005, 11:44am »

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lakelady
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Re: Court overturns Yates convictions
« Reply #2 on: Jan 6^th, 2005, 6:06pm »

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My wish for this woman is to SUFFER. BADLY. Just like her poor children did.

However, I have no idea what PP depression is like. Even so, I don't think it should be an "excuse" for what she did. Nor should she be set free. God forbid the further damage she could do.

IMO, she either needs the death penalty or to be locked up somewhere she can't get out.

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Rupey
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Re: Court overturns Yates convictions
« Reply #3 on: Jan 6^th, 2005, 11:26pm »

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...or have any more babies, God forbid.

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luci
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Re: Court overturns Yates convictions
« Reply #4 on: Jan 7^th, 2005, 10:01am »

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Post Partum Depression is REAL! Most women do not get as far as killing their babies. Her doctor told both of them it would be very unwize for her to have another baby. Did her husband listen? Obviously NOT! It is our opinion the husband is just as guilty as she is and also should have been on trial.
Andrea had ONE HOUR each week to grocery shop and have "her time alone".
Her Mother-in-Law stayed ONE HOUR with the children. She also home schooled the children. Thisz poor woman was overloaded and the circuit to her brain blew!

She will never be released and should not have to go through another trial. Yesterdays interview with the prison officials say she is doing better now than ever since she entered the system. She is housed in the phychiatric part of the prison.
My Question is this; why didn't the defense contact the producers of the show while in the middle of the trial.
Her husband filed for divorce last year and probably has another [incubater]woman in line. You may can tell I have no sympathy for him, the religious fanatic and extremist! Angry

« Last Edit: Jan 7^th, 2005, 11:48am by luci »

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Pocket
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Re: Court overturns Yates convictions
« Reply #5 on: Jan 7^th, 2005, 11:21am »

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Anyone who has suffered from PP, even in the mildest form has my deepest sympathies. Not only did Yates kill her children, she destroyed her own life, and affected all who knew her. Her doctors advised against future pregnancies, and her husband still wanted more children......he should be locked up as well.

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Rhune
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Re: Court overturns Yates convictions
« Reply #6 on: Jan 7^th, 2005, 11:36am »

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I don't have any sympathy for the husband either. My understanding was that he took her in and out of treatement and on and off medications against doctors wishes multiple times, making it impossible for this woman to recover and that it was he that demanded she home school the children against her own wishes. He definitely helped to create the conditions that caused her to flip. I don't care if she spends the rest of her life in prison or the rest of her life institutionalized, but she should not be allowed back out on the streets, period.

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NM
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Re: Court overturns Yates convictions
« Reply #7 on: Jan 7^th, 2005, 11:45am »

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I dont know for sure how i feel anout this whole thing all i know is that she should never be let out now that her PP is all over with the Real long term depression is bound to take affect she will need help for the rest of her life! Keep her i the Boobie hatch !

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luci
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Re: Court overturns Yates convictions
« Reply #8 on: Jan 7^th, 2005, 11:51am »

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As stated yesterday, this is not a "get out of jail free card".
She will not be released back into society, ever again!
So no need for concern about her being free!

I wish there was some way HE[husband] could be found guilty in some capacity and locked up as well Angry

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NM
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Re: Court overturns Yates convictions
« Reply #9 on: Jan 7^th, 2005, 12:52pm »

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this may not be a "get out of Jail Free" card however. if Found not Guilty by reason of insanity and then in say 4 years as an example the Dr's find her sane Well you know what .......she will be released! That's the scary part. there is too many loop holes with Pleading insane and being found that way and sent to an asylum and found to be sane after a short period of time. because Technically even though you are guilty you are found NOT guilty by reason of insanity.

Sure she may have to Seek helps as part of her release and take pills and all of this will be told to her by her Dr's in the Asylum however no one checks on them to make sure they are taking the pills and getting the help. this is a huge down side to people who need to be monitored unfortunately they wont keep them if they are no longer "dangerous to others or to themselves"

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luci
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Re: Court overturns Yates convictions
« Reply #10 on: Jan 7^th, 2005, 4:38pm »

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Ok then, she will be let out! When in 30 years like John Hinckley?
We live in Texas and don't plan to loose sleep worrying about her coming to kill us Roll Eyes

I will always say lock up the husband for his abuse, yes abuse!

« Last Edit: Jan 7^th, 2005, 4:39pm by luci »

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Rhune
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Re: Court overturns Yates convictions
« Reply #11 on: Jan 7^th, 2005, 5:54pm »

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If Yates receives proper treatment and medication, and NEVER has children again, I am ok with her being released into a halfway house type situation at some point.

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avsfanbuck
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Re: Court overturns Yates convictions
« Reply #12 on: Jan 10^th, 2005, 8:29am »

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I really see another trial coming for her I don't think she won this and next time for the trial she will be found guilty. Just watch the Prosecution push for another trial and I guarentee they will get it!

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Rhune
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Re: Court overturns Yates convictions
« Reply #13 on: Jan 10^th, 2005, 12:00pm »

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Oh, I'm sure there will be another trial. What I'm not sure of is why they think putting her through this again is going to be good for her. It just seems to me like the lawyers in this case are still pissed that they lost and have been looking for some kind of technicality to give it another go, regardless of what's best for her or the public.

« Last Edit: Jan 10^th, 2005, 12:00pm by Rhune »

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avsfanbuck
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Re: Court overturns Yates convictions
« Reply #14 on: Jan 10^th, 2005, 1:01pm »

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But what do you think the outcome will be?

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