Jury Finds Andrea Yates Not Guilty of Murdering Her Children

TrekkieMage · **Wed Jul 26, 2006 1:53 pm**

If she's in a mental institution, I think that the justice system worked. She's still locked away, but she's getting the right treatment and she's in a place where the wardens will understand that her head isn't screwed on right.

It sounds like she's locked away in there for as long as is necessariy - which may very well be a life sentence.

[edit]It in no way excuses what she did, but perhaps they'll be able to keep better tabs on her at a mental institution than in a prison.

Republican_Man · **Wed Jul 26, 2006 2:05 pm**

But you forget that by claiming her insane a doctor could petition a judge to let her go. Now, that's not right, is it?

Founder · **Wed Jul 26, 2006 2:08 pm**

ILoveHarry · Admiral Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 7909 Location: Houston

I agree that the insanity plee is abused. Obviously you can't be right in the head to commit murder. Esp. to murder your own children! I'm glad that she's being treated but at the same time I don't think she deserves freedom if she's, "cured."

borgslayer · **Wed Jul 26, 2006 3:02 pm**

The judge & jurors and everyone else should know that is there is no "cure for murder". She is not insane and she should be locked up behind bars.

Lord Borg · **Wed Jul 26, 2006 3:26 pm**

Yeah, shes insane now, and if "Cured" she gets let go...

Republican_Man · **Wed Jul 26, 2006 3:29 pm**

How can there be a cure for insanity anyways? It just doesn't seem possible

IntrepidIsMe · **Wed Jul 26, 2006 4:53 pm**

Perhaps we should leave that up to the professionals?

I personally think that if she is truly insane, then this is the correct ruling. I can understand everybody's complaint that insanity is overused; however, that doesn't mean that she isn't insane. Plus, it's an option that needs to be in place. Sending insane people to prison isn't any better than sending "normal" people to hospitals.

borgslayer · **Wed Jul 26, 2006 6:26 pm**

Allowing someone who murders their own 5 children go to a mental institution instead of prison is sickening.

Insane or not she murdered 5 of her own children and that my friend should be a punishedable by death or life in prisonment in jail.

IntrepidIsMe · **Wed Jul 26, 2006 6:48 pm**

Well, it's a good thing you have yet to participate in the American justice system.

borgslayer · **Wed Jul 26, 2006 6:59 pm**

If I did everyone who commit murder and found guilty insane or not would be executed by law.

IntrepidIsMe · **Wed Jul 26, 2006 7:00 pm**

Thank you for proving my point,

LightningBoy · **Thu Jul 27, 2006 6:15 pm**

Dennis Raider, Ed Gheen, or Jefferey Dohmer. Insane? I'd say so. I don't think anyone here would find them 'not guilty'. How is this different

Insane or not, five innocent kids are dead. I have no mercy for this evil killer.

I don't see how ANY 'sane' human can possibly kill another in cold blood. I think anyone capable of taking another's life is INSANE, but I don't think any of them should be found 'not guilty' because of it.

IntrepidIsMe · **Thu Jul 27, 2006 6:41 pm**

There's a difference between being found "Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity" and being found "Not Guilty." A person can only be "guilty" if they were in total control of their actions. If you're insane, then you obviously aren't.

LightningBoy · **Thu Jul 27, 2006 6:47 pm**

If one is not "in control of their own actions" then who is. That's what I hate about the insanity excuse; if a part of someone is insane and evil, then, quite frankly, THAT IS A PART OF THEM; and they need to be punished for it.

We all have angels and demons within us, it's our ability to supress or allow them, when necessary, that defines our character. Insanity is just an excuse for those who've given up that control. ...but now i'm getting into philosophy of the mind, and that has no legal presidence, so i'll just drop it here.

teya · Commander Joined: 02 Feb 2005 Posts: 423

Medically speaking, there is a difference between a sociopath--like Jeffery Dahmer--and a psychotic--like Andrea Yates.

Andrea Yates had her first psychotic break--hearing voices, hallucinations, suicide attempts--after the birth of her first child. Post-partum psychosis is a very real and very devastating disorder. Doctors told her then that she should not, under any circumstances, have another kid. Yet her husband was adamant that she have more. And she had five--her illness worsening with each pregnancy and delivery.

This isn't something where someone can just pick up the pieces, hoist herself up by her bootstraps and get on with her life. Her brain chemistry is completely screwed up. Those voices telling her to do things were completely real to her.

She's ill. Mental illness is an illness--just as a physical illness is. Would you tell someone with kidney disease that they just need to get over it, rather than do dialysis? Or a cancer patient that they can just will the cancer away?

Psychosis is no different. Well, actually it is in one very devastating way--the psychotic can never trust her own mind.

WeAz · **Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:20 pm**

She killed her five kids. How is that not insanity?