Andrea Yates: Not Guilty by reason of insanity.

[Sparkly]

I say: GOOD.

[Stinky The Clown]

1. Indeed .... now issue a restraining order to keep the Fundie .....

..... preachers and religiously insane people away from her. I blame COMPLETELY her asshole husband and her asshole preacher for what happened. That is not to dismiss the fact that she is, indeed, severly mentally ill. But it was **them** who put her where she was in life when she killed those four innocent kids.

[Totally Committed]

6. Ditto!

Nothing further to add to that!

TC

[LincolnMcGrath]

12. I agree!

[Sparkly]

22. Ironically, he called the jury decision "a miracle." No comment. nt

[ChiciB1]

2. Me Too!!

But what a sad, sad story behind it all. There was also a woman, and for the life of me I can't remember her name, but the incident haunts me... the one who drove her kids into the lake, had been abused by her father, was infatuated with a co-worker and got on T.V. crying real big tears about her loss.

That story BROKE my heart and I couldn't even watch the coverage. Even though she did a truly horrible thing, I really felt sorry for her in some way. I really do think she was one mixed of "kid" who got married way too early and couldn't handle it all. For sure, in another time she may not have done what she did, but she lived in the world of today and I don't think she was quite up to the job. I'm sure many many disagree with me and I know her ex-husband still hates her, but it all just broke my heart!

[ChiciB1]

3. Got It.... Susan Smith! n/t

[Sparkly]

4. That was heartbreaking too, I agree... However...

I don't believe Susan Smith was insane.

[ChiciB1]

23. Sorry, I Meant To Get Back To You... But A Snake Interrupted Me

when I went outside to check on some plants. The booger bit me!!!!

It was only a black snake and I didn't suffer any effects from it, YET! I doubt I will, but I was advised to get a tetanus shot. And I've been very very nice to it, guess I scared him. I have NEVER been bitten before and it didn't really hurt, totally amazing! Here in Florida black snakes are protected and I don't mind having them around and I know there are at least two who stay close by. They do keep the citrus rats away, I think.

Anyway, back to Susan. No, she wasn't insane but I think she caved under the cumulative affect of what her life had been. In some ways I think she might suffer more if they aren't treating her in some fashion. Hey, what do I know? I'm a liberal after all!!!

I DO NOT believe in the death penalty so I guess that makes me certified!

[underpants]

5. Of course she is-BTW NGRI is the worst sentence you can get

You are never done with NGRI. It can be implemented in any number of ways but you are never ever done with your sentence. In really extreme situations NGRIs can't even cross city/county lines without getting permission and they have to check in daily if not more than once a day.

NGRI is no cake walk but then Andrea Yates will probably be in a state facility for the rest of her life.

[cookiebird]

7. she needs to be there

enough said.

[win_in_06]

8. She should have received the death penalty for her crimes

[Bake]

9. We don't execute the mentally ill.

Even if the right-wing Supreme Court says it's OK. We just don't. Not in a supposedly civilized, enlightened society.

Bake

[win_in_06]

10. We shouldn't tolerate the cold-blooded murder of children

[Bake]

11. Not guilty by reason of insanity.

That means it wasn't "cold-blooded murder." Yates was not criminally responsible for her actions because of mental illness. Ergo, no "malice aforethought" etc.

Whether or not to carry out the death penalty on someone who IS legally responsible for his/her actions is another debate ...

Bake

[win_in_06]

13. Let's see. She chased her kids down throughout the house one by one

and drowned them to death in the bathtub.

If that is caused by a mental disorder, I'm okay with getting rid of people who are controlled by it.

[FILAM23]

14. I agree

if anyone is"insane" enough to kill then they need to be executed before they kill again.

[Stinky The Clown]

15. Remind me to never hire you to babysit my grandkids

[Sparkly]

17. Just for the sake of argument...

If the same thing happened EXCEPT she was stopped before they drowned, do you still believe she should be executed?

Also, do you see any validity at all to the insanity defense -- could you see another case where it could be applied in the case of a murder charge, or do you think it shouldn't exist at all?

[FILAM23]

20. Personnally I

don't think the insanity plea should exist for murder cases.
IMO if you murder someone you need to be executed.

[Sparkly]

21. Interesting.

What if someone were psychotic and homicidal -- talking about killing others, or trying to, but without having (yet) killed anyone? Should they be executed, or imprisoned, or something else?

[FILAM23]

24. No,

no punishment should be imposed until a crime is committed.
If that crime is murder then the punishment should be death
regardless of mental status.

[AtomicKitten]

16. I completely agree.

It was clear from the get-go that this woman was sadly, desperately insane.

Heartbreaking.

Those that want her to be executed can find consolation knowing she has to live with this for the rest of her life in a mental institution.

[butterfly77]

18. whats good about it..

[Sparkly]

19. That the jury accepted her psychosis

as meeting the legal definition of "insanity."