Andrea Yates - Not Guilty Verdict

[momsnet]

What do you think of the new verdict? If you hadn't heard - it was overturned from guilty to not guilty:
Houston found Andrea Yates not guilty of murder by reason of insanity Wednesday in the drowning deaths of her of young children.

The 42-year-old will be committed to a state mental hospital, with periodic hearings before a judge to determine whether she should be released. If convicted of murder, she would have faced life in prison.
(you can read full story here: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,205696,00.html )

[Rosalee]

I really don't know what to think about this case & andrea Yates. I'm on the fence about this case.


Rosalee Decker
Home & Garden Party
www.ywave.com/~zelmyrs/
Rosalee832@hotmail.com
1-360-458-5680

This is the day that the Lord has amde; we shall rejoice & be glad in it."

[Audrey]

I have many mixed thoughts. Mental illness is real. Mental illness does exist. Postpartum depression is real and does exist.

Now the question comes down to did Andrea Yates truly suffer from mental illness and postpartum depression. If she did, then the not guilty verdict is correct.

I am so very sorry that she was not able to get help prior to these innocent children dieing :(

Am very interested to hear other's thoughts too.

Audrey :)
http://www.scrapping-made-simple.com

[momsnet]

The thing that bothers me most is the term "Not Guilty".... she was guilty... whether insane or not. So if truly insane - why can't the verdict say "Guilty but Insane" .

But I'm still surprised that the jury came back with this. Because it took awhile to drown these poor kids, it wasn't just a kneejerk reaction that was over in a minute or two.

[Rosalee]

I agree with both of you ladies, part of me says Yes she is guilty,by reason of Insanity- I guess I can see both sides, it's hard to decide one way or the other Not knowing all the facts.

Rosalee Decker
Home & Garden Party
www.ywave.com/~zelmyrs/
Rosalee832@hotmail.com
1-360-458-5680

This is the day that the Lord has made; we shall rejoice & be glad in it."

[nattiesmom]

I know what I want to say but I won't.I will not deny about medical conditions I know they exist and they are real.I dont know what to say.I guess a part of me wants to say that she does have a problem and needs help,but another part of me wants to say how can a person live with themselves after killing her innocent children?I guess I dont know what to think.This is just my opinion,of course. :mad:

[Rosalee]

Yes, Nattiesmom- I feel pretty much the same way as you do, I don't think that there is anything that can justify murdering your kids- which is what she did, whether mentally ill or not. If she new she had a problem why didn't she & the family seek counceling or medical treatment or therapy. Enough said I guess.

Rosalee Decker
Home & Garden Party
www.ywave.com/~zelmyrs/
Rosalee832@hotmail.com
1-360-458-5680

This is the day that the Lord has made; we shall rejoice & be glad in it."

[Heike]

I am very saddened by this.

I believe if you are so mentally ill that you can drown your 5 children one by one, someone should have noticed. So who is guilty, Andrea, or the people around her? Or both? Mental illness is real, but I personally cannot excuse this horrendous actions. I feel very strongly about mental illness as a verdict in criminal cases, so this hits the spot.

Heike

[allhisblessings]

This makes me so sad...for the CHILDREN! It absoultely sickens me that 5 innocent children are no longer here & went through all of that fear, trauma, & who knows what else during that horrific time. :( :( :(

The words NOT GUILTY bothers me a great deal as well since she was GUILTY--mentally ill or not ill.

In the long run, it comes down to these poor children...I just CANNOT imagine. :(