Andrea Yates retrial

[Naomi]

ARTICLE (http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/mother-of-drowned-children-found-not-guilty/2006/07/27/1153816289169.html)

Andrea Yates drowned her 5 children in the bath after suffering from post-partum psychoses. She was found guilty of murder but has been retried due to evidence at the first trial being flawed.

She was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

This is a terrible case on so many levels. So, so sad :(

[yomamma]

Insanity my ar$e

[~Jodie~]

Yates was being tried for the murder of only three of her children, but it was not known if prosecutors would now seek a trial on the murder charges for the other two.

:dk: Why wouldn't they get her for all of them at once :dk:

[Telori]

Why didn't she just drown herself! they said she was suicidal....x(

[~Jodie~]

:yes: Good Point, Why didn't she :dk: Brings problems to the insane bit !!

[Naomi]

In her psychosis, she believed she was actually saving the children by drowning them. I have never had postnatal psychosis but I did have a terribly difficult time adjusting to having a baby - and Hugo was a good baby (apart from the sleeping, but he wasn't a crier, he was a very content baby). I am lucky that I had family and friends, and a great GP, who help me through a really rough time.

I can't understand how a mother could intentionally harm their child/ren and I can't understand why Andrea Yates did it, I won't even pretend to. My heart is broken for those small children and the terrible death they experienced. But what this situation does make me wonder is, why aren't there more services for women who are struggling with this issue. Why didn't someone notice she was struggling? Why didn't someone help?

Also - she has the weight of those children on her conscience for the rest of her life ... how do you cope with that?

[Luv Angel Musik Babee]

OMG those poor babies :( I dont know how anyone could kill a child let alone the mother of those children, and to drown them, that would mean actually holding them down even while they tried to fight.


I think I had post natal depression with both the boys, especially Gav, I was so isolated and it was bad but I never wanted to hurt him or Ty, more like myself, it wasn't the kids fault, I was the one that got into that situation. I never seen or admitted it to a doctor or anyone but I am so scared of it happening again and this time its going to be so so much harder with the ages. I'm very good at hiding things from friends and family, no one would have guessed it, I'm all happy and stuff when they're around but alone its a different story

[Naomi]

Angie, all those things you describe are typical of PND ... and if you do feel like that this time, please talk to your GP or child health nurse or us, or anyone. My regret is that I didn't try to get help sooner, and I have to live with the knowledge that for the first six months of Hugo's life, I wasn't the mother I should have been for him. That I essentially missed out on 6 months worth of my wonderful child's life and can never get them back again :( This is one of the main reasons I can't make up my mind to have another baby - what if it happens again? But at least I kind of know what to expect this time, I guess.

[Luv Angel Musik Babee]

I know what you mean, I missed lots of Gav's firsts cause I just wasnt interested really, made a big deal out of it for family though, I've been much much better with Ty, it didnt last so long but then I still think there are times I have it or maybe its just depression as a whole :dk: But I'm :ots: sorry :hehe:

[Telori]

I had depression after Logan was born...but I think it was more due to the father of my baby, than the baby himself....but I never thought to harm my baby...

She is a monster...

[Naomi]

What I'm trying to say is, I don't understand how someone could hurt their own child/ren ... so it seems to me there must be *something* wrong with her. Otherwise, it's incomprehensible. Am I making sense? I'm not trying to absolve her actions, just trying to understand how it could come to this.

I do agree that in my worst moments I never wanted or could have imagined hurting Hugo. I did want to give him away, but that was because I believed I was not the best mother for him, that he deserved someone who loved him properly. I know now that's crazy, but I really thought it was the best thing at the time. I'm glad DH convinced me otherwise. So on that level I can see how you make decisions that really don't make sense ... but not the way she did. (That said, I have NO idea what a post-natal psychosis would be like.)

[Luv Angel Musik Babee]

Psychosis meaning: A severe mental disorder, with or without organic damage, characterized by derangement of personality and loss of contact with reality and causing deterioration of normal social functioning.

Thats the meaning I found for psychosis, I thought it was like trance type thing that you were stuck in, not 100% sure though and obviously wrong :hehe: I dont know how someone could hurt another person and especially a child, and to drwon them would have to be pretty physical(sp?) cause she'd have to hold them down and they'd fight her to try and get air, drowning would have to be the worst death ever, so slow and painful

[Naomi]

I know. But if nothing else, hopefully something is learnt from this so it doesn't happen to someone else's children :(

[grammyjo]

Her husband should have been arrested too. She was having problems having 5 children so chose together but he didn't believe her. He wouldn't let her seek help. And then he devorces her & remarries. He's to blame as much as she is. Poor babies.

Jo

[Naomi]

Her husband should have been arrested too. She was having problems having 5 children so chose together but he didn't believe her. He wouldn't let her seek help. And then he devorces her & remarries. He's to blame as much as she is. Poor babies.

Jo
I didn't realise he prevented her from getting help. In that case, yes, he is responsible too.

[GINAinLA]

This just makes me sick. There are way too many people playing the insanity card after they commit murder. It is just BS to me.

Her husband should have helped her or let her seek help. YES.

But killing them because you cant handle it or saying they were going to hell?:wtfs:

She said she did not want them to go to HELL, that the devil told her he would take them there, that in itself says she knew the difference between right and wrong..

She should get the chair.. Her one life for 5 of theirs. That is justice to me.

I could never harm my child. Yah I get stressed even with just one because I feel I dont even have a free uninterupted thought.. but that was what I signed on for.. I deal with it.

[grammyjo]

I agree with you Gina. Murder is murder but her ex-husband could have prevented it from happening. She needed help from the beginning & men like him & Tom Cruise state that there is no such thing as postnatal depression.
Now he's remarried & how many children will he father this time.
It's always so sad when helpless children are hurt. We're supposed to protect them. They're with God now.

Jo

[CarolineBreck]

I saw this morning on Good Morning America, an interview with one of the jurors. He was saying that they all felt very good with their decision given the evidence towards psychosis. (Of course they will say that one the news!)

What they were also talking about was the next decision...whether or not she will EVER be let out of a mental facility.

I can't believe there would ever be question of that. If they are not goign to put the woman in prison, she should at least be getting help for the REST OF HER LIFE in a gov't run facility.

[grammyjo]

I agree Caroline she needs help. I hope she gets it now.

Jo

[rainyday1016]

She had depression with each of the children and I believe I heard that she didn't want any more children after #3, but husband didn't want to hear that. I understand that she is the one that physically did the harm, but isn't the husband at fault for not supporting and helping? Oh-wait he was also too busy working leaving her with all the kids all day long and all night long. Im glad I have a husband,family, friends that are able to help out. I need my space every so often.

[CarolineBreck]

You are so right. Its a shame the law can't put some of the blame on the husband.

However, now he is left with his life in ruins...children gone and an ex-wife that killed them. I hate it for everyone involved. It need not have happened. I wonder now if he regrets some of his decisions...

[grammyjo]

I get the impression from interviews that he feels he has nothing to regret. He was the perfect husband & father.

Jo

[CarolineBreck]

I have not heard any interviews with the husband. Terrible that he feels that way. How irresponsible. :(

[daydragon]

Its just too horrible & heartbreaking to think of.....!!!! My own children saw some of that news report & i just didnt know what to say to them!!! Ive known a few different people with mental health issues & labelling what she did as "insane" is so unfair to people out there who are truely suffering from depression & other mental health problems..& it is also sending the wrong message out there to the general public about people who do these horrific things to other people, even innocent children!! I would never want to be in the possition of having to decide her fate. Its all terribly sad!!! :.(