Search Results for: andrea yates

Andrea Yates, 20 years later

This case still breaks my heart. Twenty years after their killings, attorney George Parnham still dutifully visits the graves of Andrea Yates’ five children. He regularly drives to Clear Lake to leave flowers for Noah, 7; John, 5; Paul, 3; … Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Andrea Yates, ten years later

It’s hard to believe that it’s been ten years since Andrea Yates drowned her children in their bathtub. I’ve blogged about her many times since first posting about her trial and conviction, which was later overturned on the grounds that … Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Still debating Andrea Yates

I did read this op-ed from Sunday by Michael Welner, the highly-paid prosecution expert in the Andrea Yates retrial, and I remember thinking “wow, what a pompous ass”, but for whatever the reason I never got around to blogging about … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

Double jeopardy for Andrea Yates?

Andrea Yates’ attorney is alleging prosecutorial misconduct in the matter of Park Dietz’s bogus testimony. In court papers filed Monday, attorney George Parnham said prosecutors in her original trial were reckless, if not intentionally misleading, when they used testimony they … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 8 Comments

Andrea Yates released on bond

Andrea Yates has been released from prison on bail. She’s not exactly free, however. Wednesday, [Judge Belinda] Hill granted bail with the assurance that Yates would voluntarily commit herself to Rusk, until her trial begins. She then will be moved … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 5 Comments

Appeals court upholds new trial for Andrea Yates

Even the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals occasionally gets one right. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals today upheld a lower court’s ruling granting a new trial to Andrea Yates, the Clear Lake-area woman convicted of drowning her children in … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 4 Comments

Why the Andrea Yates case still breaks my heart

Reading this article about how Andrea Yates is (according to her best friend) doing a little better now reminds me why after all this time I still get irrationally pissed off reading articles like this. [O]ver time, Yates, who home-schooled … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 14 Comments

What now for Andrea Yates?

The updated Chron story on the overturning of Andrea Yates’ convictions has some info on what might come next. The decision means that if prosecutors cannot get Yates’ capital murder conviction restored through appeals, they will have to decide whether … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 6 Comments

Andrea Yates hospitalized

This is no surprise. Texas prison officials transferred Andrea Yates to John Sealy Hospital Monday because she has lost a significant amount of weight and her mental and physical condition has deteriorated, George Parnham said. “There’s just a blackness to … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 10 Comments

Andrea Yates found guilty

It took the jury only 3.5 hours to reach the verdict, which surprises me. I thought they’d be in there a lot longer than that. Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Andrea Yates found guilty

The Andrea Yates trial

I’ve avoided commenting on Houston’s other big story, mostly because I’m conflicted about it. What Andrea Yates did was horrible, but I don’t believe that killing her is in the interests of justice. I think we can all agree that … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 5 Comments

Rusty Yates has a new son

Noted for the record. Rusty Yates, the father of five slain children, has a son with his new wife. Yates on Sunday told KHOU television in Houston that his wife, Laura, recently gave birth to a “healthy boy.” Further details … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Rusty Yates has a new son

Yates verdict reactions

I’m running short on time here, so I’ll just point you to this story and this story about reactions to the Andrea Yates verdict. My own extended thoughts are here. Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Yates verdict reactions

Yates “not guilty by reason of insanity”

Andrea Yates has been found not guilty by reason of insanity in her retrial. The verdict upholding Yates’ insanity defense comes after the jury deliberated more than 12 hours and spent two nights sequestered at an area hotel . Yates … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 3 Comments

Deliberations in the Yates trial

The jury in the retrial of Andrea Yates has completed its second day of deliberations, and they have asked to review some evidence while they come to their decision. Earlier today they asked to see a slide presentation compiled by … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Deliberations in the Yates trial

Closing time in the Yates 2.0 trial

Time to check in on the Andrea Yates retrial again, where closing arguments are going on. Both sides brought out their strongest expert testimony last week, and though there was some new testimony overall, this trial was in many ways … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

Yates defense rests

The defense rested today in the Andrea Yates trial after her best friend testified that “she became a zombie” after the birth of her fourth child. Next up is the rebuttal phase, which will bring the reappearance of an old … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Yates defense rests

On to the defense in the Yates 2.0 trial

I’m a little surprised to realize that the prosecution has already rested its case against Andrea Yates in the retrial. I don’t remember it being this quick last time, and I’m not sure how it could be virtually the same … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 3 Comments

The Yates 2.0 jury

I found this story about the voir dire for Andrea Yates retrial jury fascinating. The seven women and eight men chosen for the new jury Thursday each had to agree they could set aside what they previously heard or learned … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 4 Comments

Yates jury selection

Jury selection for the Andrea Yates trial 2.0 begins tomorrow. The first half of a 120-person panel will begin answering questionnaires intended to help attorneys gauge who can fairly and impartially decide whether Yates knew right from wrong when she … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 2 Comments

Yates retrial delayed

Judge Belinda Hill has granted a defense motion to delay the start of Andrea Yates’ retrial until June 22 because two defense witnesses were not available until then. Yates attorney George Parnham argued this morning before Hill that the witnesses … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Yates retrial delayed

As the Yates retrial is set to start

Couple of worthwhile articles on the imminent Andrea Yates retrial in the Chron today. First, on why the insanity defense is both a terribly blunt instrument as well as a crapshoot. Between 2001 and 2004, four Texas women became famous … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 6 Comments

Yates plea deal rejected

The Harris County DA has offered a plea to Andrea Yates, but the offer was rejected. Prosecutors have offered Andrea Pia Yates a plea agreement in which she would get a 35-year prison sentence if she pleaded guilty to murder … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 6 Comments

Yates decision Monday

State District Judge Belinda Hill will rule on Monday whether or not Andrea Yates should be tried again for murder or if the false testimony presented by prosecution witness Park Dietz creates a double jeopardy situation. Dietz testified Friday he … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 3 Comments

Prosecution claims Yates is faking it

A fellow inmate of Andrea Yates has told prosecutors that Yates gave her advice on faking mental illness. Andrea Yates advised a fellow inmate how to “beat her case, specifically, to act mentally sick or crazy,” according to court documents … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

Yates requests transfer

Attorneys for Andrea Yates have filed a motion for a “reasonable” bond that would allow them to move her into Rusk Psychiatric Hospital. George Parnham argues that Yates, who drowned her five children in June 2001, cannot afford the current … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

Yates pleads not guilty again

The retrial of Andrea Yates begins with her not guilty plea. Appearing calm and wearing glasses and an orange jumpsuit, Yates stood next to her attorney before State District Judge Belinda Hill, who set a new trial date of March … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Yates pleads not guilty again

Yates moving to state mental hospital

Andrea Yates is about to get a change of scenery, which is a result of her conviction being overturned. Andrea Yates, the Houston mother who drowned her five children in the family’s bathtub, will soon move from an East Texas … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

Yates trial 2.0

As it appears there will be a new trial for Andrea Yates instead of a plea bargain (for which the Chron editorialized today), this story covers the topics to keep in mind as things proceed. Harris County prosecutor Alan Curry … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 2 Comments

DA appeals Yates decision

I’m not surprised that the Harris County DA’s office has asked the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to overturn the lower court ruling that threw out Andrea Yates’ conviction. It would have been a major shock had they not done … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

Yates ruling upheld for now

The 1st Texas Court of Appeals has declined to reconsider its ruling to vacate the murder convictions against Andrea Yates. Assistant District Attorney Alan Curry said he was disappointed by the decision and plans to take the case to the … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 2 Comments

Yates divorce finalized

Rusty and Andrea Yates are officially no longer married. Ginger noted this yesterday, and I think her cynical guess as to Rusty’s motivation are spot on. If so, I’m sure we’ll know soon enough. Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Yates divorce finalized

Prosecution appeals Yates order

The Harris County DA office has appealed the order for a new trial for Andrea Yates. In a motion filed Thursday, prosecutors say the 1st Texas Court of Appeals erred Jan. 6 when it ordered a new trial, citing an … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Prosecution appeals Yates order

Yates juror speaks out

One of the jurors for the Andrea Yates case says his decision to convict was affected by Dr. Park Dietz’ testimony. Ron Jones, juror No. 7 on the panel that decided Yates’ fate, told state District Judge Belinda Hill in … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 3 Comments