Comments on: Andrea Yates: Not guilty by reason of insanity

By: christina

christina — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 03:38:45 +0000

As a matter of fact Andrea Yates will only serve 2-3years tops in the mental institution and will be out on the streets with no convictions and can work at a child care facilty if she so chooses. I am from Texas and this is what happens to people that get “not Guilty By reason of insantiy” ex. Nathan Dale Campbell is now out on the streets after only 5 years in the mental institution.

By: My Community Place

My Community Place — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 20:12:20 +0000

Andrea Yates drowns her kids, not guilty.

Andrea Yates was found not guilty be reason of insanity on Wednesday. Seems kinda easy, all you have to do is act like you’re a wack job.

By: Drewsmom

Drewsmom — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 10:19:01 +0000

O.K. this is how I feel.
She did has post-partum depression which is common. The doc told her so called husb not get her pregnant again but they went right on humping and popping out innocent beautiful children. He knew she was loose as a goose but continued. He has gone on record saying that he still talks to her and they reminiece (sp) about the children. BS, IF MY SPOUSE HAD KILLED ALL MY KIDS, I’M DONE, I DON’T TALK TO THEM, IT’S FRIGGIN OVER. THIS GUY IS SO REPUGNENT.
Also it has not come out that were in some kind of wackish cult like church, kinda following the Waco type guys but the msm ain’t talking about that. I heard it on radio from a guy who has seen the transcripts but the jury didn’t hear this.
Also, when you are in psycosis you don’t come in and out like her. You are not gonna chase some of the kids down, drown each on, put em on a bed and call your spouse and then the police. SHE KNEW IT WAS WRONG AND SHOULD BE IN A JAIL WHERE THEY HAVE PSYCH SERVICES AND THEY DO HAVE THOSE JAILS OUT THERE.
I am so pissed about this, nother example of forgetting the victims and favoring the perp.

By: Marshall Art

Marshall Art — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 02:46:59 +0000

This is just the kind of case that drives a Christian nuts—so to speak. Obviously the broad is crazy if she could do such a thing to her own kids. But should that mean punishment is out of the question? The main problem with this result, is that somewhere down the road, some lib judge might find her “healed” enough to be freed. I would think it far more likely for her to be freed if she’s in an institution rather than prison as a heinous murderer, which she is.

By: forest hunter

forest hunter — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 23:31:04 +0000

Sev: I’m sure glad I took the time to read your comment. EXACTLY!

By: Severian

Severian — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 20:43:39 +0000

I’ve never understood the rationale behind “not guilty by reason of insanity.” Look at it this way, if a person was sane, then punishment can be a deterrent, in that if you punish them hard enough, they will get the idea and not do that again. But insane or didn’t know it was wrong due to mental state? That’s hopeless, if they aren’t sane enough to know it’s wrong, just shoot them. It’s impossible for normal punishment to work on them. They shoot mad dogs don’t they?

By: Dana

Dana — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 20:37:59 +0000

The verdict is unsatisfying, if reasonable. But the greatest probability is that Mrs Yates will remain incarcerated in a mental hospital for many, many years, possibly the rest of her life.

In an AP story published before the verdict was announced:

Yates to Become Prisoner, Regardless

DALLAS – Whether she’s convicted of murder in the bathtub drownings of her young children or acquitted by reason of insanity, Andrea Yates will likely spend the rest of her life as a prisoner.

If jurors agree with her plea of innocent by reason of insanity, Yates would be sent to a state-run, maximum-security mental hospital that would in no way resemble a country club.

Patients at Vernon State Mental Hospital in north Texas, where Yates would be initially sent, spend their days under orders, allotted only a small amount of daily free time, just like inmates in the state prison where Yates would spend the rest of her life if convicted.

The hospital campus is encircled on all sides by a 17-foot-high fence dotted with guard towers.

“I would say that anyone who thinks it too cozy, go up there and spend two nights,” said David Haynes, attorney for Dena Schlosser, who was acquitted by reason of insanity in the death of her infant daughter and has been at Vernon since spring.

“They are in there … and they can’t come out,” he said.

Yeah, it’s possible that she will eventually be released, but if that ever occurs, it’ll be many, many years down the road. I do wish that Texas had a “Guilty, but Insane” verdict, to tighten up cases like this, and perhaps the state legislature will get going on that one after this case, but I don’t see this result as some huge injustice.

By: benning

benning — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 19:11:06 +0000

Unfortunately there is no “Guilty But Insane” verdict. I agree that she is insane. But I think the fact that she could be out on the street, in not too long, is appalling.