Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
Prosecutors Start Response Today in Yates Trial
Aired March 07, 2002 - 06:07 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 turn our attention to Andrea Yates now. Attorneys for her, the Houston, Texas woman accused of drowning her five children, have now wrapped up their defense. Today the prosecution mounts its rebuttal to the defense testimony.
CNN's Ed Lavandera brings us up to date.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Phillip Resnick didn't waste any time getting out of Houston.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I will not (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
LAVANDERA: The defense's medical expert stood by his analysis that Andrea Yates did not know right from wrong when she drowned her five children. Prosecutors say Yates knew her actions were illegal and they wonder if the pressures of being a mother of five drove her to murder the children. Prosecutor Joe Owmby asked Resnick -- quote -- "isn't it possible for a schizophrenic person to kill their children because they feel overwhelmed"? Resnick added "to say that Andrea's psychosis is made up would be an extraordinarily allegation".
Resnick argued Yates' mind was trapped in a cruel dilemma. He says Yates believed drowning the children would save them from perishing in the fires of hell. These psychotic details started emerging shortly after Andrea Yates was arrested. Jail doctors say medical treatment is bringing Andrea Yates out of a psychotic fog. The road to recovery is grueling for her family to watch, especially for Yates' mother, Karin Kennedy, who tearfully told the jury her daughter was a wonderful mother.
Andrea Yates broke down watching her mother testify and as Russell Yates does almost every Tuesday, he visited with his wife for 15 minutes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) her mom on the witness stand today?
RUSSELL YATES: Briefly.
LAVANDERA: It's got to be difficult.
YATES: Yes. Andrea, you know, her mood is pretty appropriate. She's got a lot to -- a lot to bear right now.
LAVANDERA (on camera): There are still several days of testimony left and Russell Yates says his family has been bearing a lot of the pressure throughout this trial, so he looks forward to the day it's over, but he couches that by saying "only if it's a favorable outcome."
Ed Lavandera, CNN, Houston.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And again the trial goes on today.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com