Yates' Conviction Overturned

[GypsySorcerer]

Here's the link:Yates

[GateandGarden]

Thanks for posting this. I was upset about this trial in 2001 (and still am) because to me it shows how people simply don't understand mental illness. Also, I never understood why Dietz fabricated a "Law and Order" episode. That seemed like a pretty stupid move.

So, what do y'all predict will happen with this case?

[GypsySorcerer]

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

Thanks for posting this. I was upset about this trial in 2001 (and still am) because to me it shows how people simply don't understand mental illness. Also, I never understood why Dietz fabricated a "Law and Order" episode. That seemed like a pretty stupid move.

So, what do y'all predict will happen with this case?

I don't know. I do know she doesn't belong in jail. I never understood her husband. I've always felt he should be held partially responsible for his children's deaths.

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by GypsySorcerer

I never understood her husband. I've always felt he should be held partially responsible for his children's deaths.

I think so too.

Originally Posted by GypsySorcerer

I don't know. I do know she doesn't belong in jail.

I had such a hard time with this case because I didn't think she should be in jail, either, but I encountered so many people who wanted her burned at the stake.

[GODDESS6]

wow u guys feel as i have about this all along~ as a sufferer of post pardom depression myself after the birth of my son (mine was the opposite of hers tho, i couldn't bear being seperated from my son, had 2 hold him constantly, cried uncontrolably), it was horrible, thanx 2 my physician who recognized it & gave me small doses of paxil, 10 mg @ a time, & it wrked like a miracle & i only had 2 take it for 2 months~ tho i know my situation was VERY minor compared 2 andrea's i never thought she belonged in jail either, & i 2 believe that her hubby had some responsibility in this also~ i mean remember up until recently they lived in a bus even tho he made way more than enuf money 2 buy them a home, & not only was she caring 4 her children 24/7 w/ homeschooling & such she took care of 2 other family members including her father until they passed away~ & when mental health officials told her husband of her condition, he took it w/ disregard & had her taken off some of her meds, & @ 1 time he said when they suggested 4 her not 2 have more children, he said she will have as many kids & me & god see fit~ i just never understood y he was never really looked @~ i know, that andrea did these acts w/ her own hands but i don't believe it was w/ her own mind, & tho the signs were so prevelant that she was a danger 2 herself & others it seems so many turned away & pretended it wasn't as serious as it was~ this is sucha tragedy for all involved & breaks my heart 2 this day as it did the day i heard the news of this~ i just hope she gets the help she needs, not just thrown away in prison~ i can honestly say the insanity defense i don't always agree w/, but deep in my heart & mind i believe she was insane & it is just so sad 4 those 5 babies~ may their little angel souls 4 ever rest in peace 2gether~

[GypsySorcerer]

Originally Posted by GODDESS6

wow u guys feel as i have about this all along~ as a sufferer of post pardom depression myself after the birth of my son (mine was the opposite of hers tho, i couldn't bear being seperated from my son, had 2 hold him constantly, cried uncontrolably), it was horrible, thanx 2 my physician who recognized it & gave me small doses of paxil, 10 mg @ a time, & it wrked like a miracle & i only had 2 take it for 2 months~ tho i know my situation was VERY minor compared 2 andrea's i never thought she belonged in jail either, & i 2 believe that her hubby had some responsibility in this also~ i mean remember up until recently they lived in a bus even tho he made way more than enuf money 2 buy them a home, & not only was she caring 4 her children 24/7 w/ homeschooling & such she took care of 2 other family members including her father until they passed away~ & when mental health officials told her husband of her condition, he took it w/ disregard & had her taken off some of her meds, & @ 1 time he said when they suggested 4 her not 2 have more children, he said she will have as many kids & me & god see fit~ i just never understood y he was never really looked @~ i know, that andrea did these acts w/ her own hands but i don't believe it was w/ her own mind, & tho the signs were so prevelant that she was a danger 2 herself & others it seems so many turned away & pretended it wasn't as serious as it was~ this is sucha tragedy for all involved & breaks my heart 2 this day as it did the day i heard the news of this~ i just hope she gets the help she needs, not just thrown away in prison~ i can honestly say the insanity defense i don't always agree w/, but deep in my heart & mind i believe she was insane & it is just so sad 4 those 5 babies~ may their little angel souls 4 ever rest in peace 2gether~

I agree on all counts, Jill. When will this country take women's health issues seriously?

[GODDESS6]

Originally Posted by GypsySorcerer

I agree on all counts, Jill. When will this country take women's health issues seriously?

reading this gave me the chills, i agree, it is a sad state of affairs ~

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by GODDESS6

wow u guys feel as i have about this all along~ as a sufferer of post pardom depression myself after the birth of my son (mine was the opposite of hers tho, i couldn't bear being seperated from my son, had 2 hold him constantly, cried uncontrolably), it was horrible, thanx 2 my physician who recognized it & gave me small doses of paxil, 10 mg @ a time, & it wrked like a miracle & i only had 2 take it for 2 months~ tho i know my situation was VERY minor compared 2 andrea's i never thought she belonged in jail either, & i 2 believe that her hubby had some responsibility in this also~ i mean remember up until recently they lived in a bus even tho he made way more than enuf money 2 buy them a home, & not only was she caring 4 her children 24/7 w/ homeschooling & such she took care of 2 other family members including her father until they passed away~ & when mental health officials told her husband of her condition, he took it w/ disregard & had her taken off some of her meds, & @ 1 time he said when they suggested 4 her not 2 have more children, he said she will have as many kids & me & god see fit~ i just never understood y he was never really looked @~ i know, that andrea did these acts w/ her own hands but i don't believe it was w/ her own mind, & tho the signs were so prevelant that she was a danger 2 herself & others it seems so many turned away & pretended it wasn't as serious as it was~ this is sucha tragedy for all involved & breaks my heart 2 this day as it did the day i heard the news of this~ i just hope she gets the help she needs, not just thrown away in prison~ i can honestly say the insanity defense i don't always agree w/, but deep in my heart & mind i believe she was insane & it is just so sad 4 those 5 babies~ may their little angel souls 4 ever rest in peace 2gether~

Needless to say, I really agree with everything you said. I had forgotten some of those details, such as how the husband defied the doctor's orders and said she would have more children. I think he was particulary irresponsible and blind to the reality of the situation.

[Nixxxed]

This all happened about 10 miles from me, in Clear Lake, TX. People here are PISSED. I've overheard people talking in the grocery store and the library about it, and they really do want to "burn her at the stake."

I've just never understood why most people were not more sympathetic about the facts of this case. Yes, she knew she was doing wrong ("technically", in terms of the definition of insanity), but her illness took control and would not let her stop. I don't think she should be freed or anything, but to lock her up without real medical help for the rest of her life is just insane and inhuman.

I hope this trial starts real discussion about health care and treatment and compassion for those suffering from all forms of mental illness, not just about post-partem depression.

[Sorceress]

I get so angry at the husband when I think about this case. He most definitely deserves a lion's share of the responsiblity for the crime for refusing to allow her to follow her doctor's advice or get the treatment she needed.
I was appalled when she was convicted. How anyone could think she did this as a well person is beyond me.
The insanity defense is real. I've worked with people who have killed while untreated for their mental illnesses and are now properly medicated. The guilt most of them feel is terrible and unexcapable. I can't imagine what Andrea Yates has to live with when she thinks about her babies and what she did.

[tynan88]

Hmm I think in general this brings up very strong mental health issues, it was mentioned before that women's mental health issues weren't well recognised in America, I think in general it isn't just women's mental health issues, nor is it just in America.

Tynan

[ThePenguin]

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

Needless to say, I really agree with everything you said. I had forgotten some of those details, such as how the husband defied the doctor's orders and said she would have more children. I think he was particulary irresponsible and blind to the reality of the situation.

The fact that he thought she should have more children, when it was already obvious that she was suffering from mental health issues, really infuriates me.... especially being as he basically skipped off to work every day while dumping all the responsibility for those kids upon her incredibly ill shoulders. How dare he suggest that she should continue getting pregnant.

This pisses me off almost as much as when a man spouts off against abortion. Excuse me sir, but when a life begins to grow in YOUR body, THEN you may open your mouth with an opinion. Until then, zip it.

-Lis

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by ThePenguin

The fact that he thought she should have more children, when it was already obvious that she was suffering from mental health issues, really infuriates me.... especially being as he basically skipped off to work every day while dumping all the responsibility for those kids upon her incredibly ill shoulders. How dare he suggest that she should continue getting pregnant.

This pisses me off almost as much as when a man spouts off against abortion. Excuse me sir, but when a life begins to grow in YOUR body, THEN you may open your mouth with an opinion. Until then, zip it.

-Lis

DING DING DING DING DING DING

Correct on both counts!!!!!!!!!

In this case, the prosecution messed up - period. Sad that this happens, but it does. I mean if you are going to assert, in a rather assinine manner to me, the theory of a case is "she saw it on t.v." you should research that and make sure it is correct The stupid thing is the prosecution did not need to assert this theory, which obviously they or someone made up, as this def. would have been found guilty just on the direct evidence

Fortunately, the article indicates Yates will stay locked up until the new trial and her lawyer will NOT ask to spring her from the pookey.

Finally, this case is a classic case where the perp. is nuts and did not realy know right from wrong. I mean she drowned her kids and then called the police to show them - plus she had a history of insanity. Thus, she should have been put away instead of convicted as a sane person. Sadly, conviction as a sane person perhaps was the only way to keep her off of the
streets for a very long time, but that way is not going to provide her with psychiatric help of any long term real significance

[Kelly]

Actually he did not fabricate the episode of Law and Order. He had been hired as a consultant and worked on the episode in question, BUT it had not aired on June 20th. It did not air until after she had killed her babies so she could not have seen it and hatched this plan from the show. It was a pretty stupid mistake for him to make. I dislike Park for another reason..he testified for the prosecution and alot fo what he said he knew was bunk. He interviewed Andrea four months after she had killed her children when she was on all kinds of antipsychotic medication. She told him "then" that she knew it was wrong to kill her children, so Park tells the jury that Andrea knew it was wrong to kill her kids, therefore she was not insane. Come on! He had no idea what condition she was in on June 20th because he did not interview her until four months later. Very unfair and I am glad it was overturned. That woman should be in a mental hospital..probably for the rest of her life. The guilt she has to live with now that she is lucid is sufficient punishment IMHO.

[ThePenguin]

Originally Posted by Kelly

Very unfair and I am glad it was overturned. That woman should be in a mental hospital..probably for the rest of her life. The guilt she has to live with now that she is lucid is sufficient punishment IMHO.

I absolutely agree; there could be nothing worse than waking up every day with the knowledge of what she did.

-Lis