Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Russell Yates Testifies, Will Return to Stand Today

Aired February 28, 2002 - 06:04   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk about the Yates' case now. The husband of the woman accused of drowning their five children will be back on the witness stand today, this time for cross examination.

CNN's David Mattingly reports on yesterday's emotional testimony.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Russell Yates had been criticized for not showing more emotion in public after his wife, Andrea, drowned their five children. On the witness stand, in his wife's defense, Russell shedding tears as attorneys showed home videos of the children happy and healthy. Mother Andrea smiling broadly after the birth of her fifth child.

WENDELL ODOM, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: She was crying almost the entire last hour.

MATTINGLY: Russell Yates offered personal details of how his wife twice declined into serious mental illness. First in 1999, when she twice attempted suicide, then seemed to recover completely. Then again last year, two hospitalizations after the death of Andrea's father. Through both episodes Yates claimed doctors never told him his wife was diagnosed psychotic up until the day she was left at home alone for one hour and killed their children. Russell Yates said he never considered Andrea as a threat.

FAIRY CAROLAND, RUSSELL YATES' AUNT: It's hard for anybody to have imagined her to be a danger to anyone at all. She was just always so kind and so giving to everybody, not just the children, but to anybody she knew.

MATTINGLY: Russell Yates' testimony raises more questions now about the care Andrea received in the months prior to the day she drowned her five children. Russell described disagreements over medication, how he believed Andrea was discharged from the hospital too soon, how her doctor ended anti-psychotic medication and offered the advice to think positive thoughts.

And Thursday, day nine of the Andrea Yates' capital murder trial, Russell Yates returns to the stand, this time under cross-examination as the prosecution asks the questions.

David Mattingly, CNN, Houston.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com