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CNN Live Today

Sentencing Phase Begins in Andrea Yates Case

Aired March 14, 2002 - 12:12   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The sentencing phase now underway in the Andrea Yates matter. The same jury that convicted Yates of murder must decide now if she should face the death penalty or life if prison. Ed Lavandera has tracked the trial from the very beginning. His latest report now from Houston.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Emotional testimony expected today as the punishment phase of Andrea Yates' capital murder trial begins in Houston, Texas. The same jury that found Andrea Yates guilty of drowning her five children will determine whether or not Andrea Yates need to be sent to prison for life or will be executed for her crime.

This morning, attorneys arriving at the courthouse saying that the defense plans to call four to eight witnesses, including family members, Russell Yates and Andrea Yates' mother, Karen Kennedy, as well as some medical experts who will try to address the jury about the No. 1 issue the jury has to answer at this moment, is whether or not Andrea Yates is a future threat to society. So, medical experts will be used to show the jury that they don't consider Andrea Yates to be a future threat.

The prosecution, we were told quickly as prosecutors entered the courthouse this morning that they don't plan on calling any witnesses. Perhaps, an indication that they are not terribly thrilled about the jury considering the death option in this case. If you'll remember, back in August, whether or not prosecutors would seek the death penalty has been a hotly debated issue around this case, not only in this country but around the world. Testimony is expected to last about a day. And defense attorneys say they are starting to feel the pressure of the weight of this moment.

GEORGE PARNHAM, YATES' DEFENSE ATTORNEY: You can imagine the burden, and we will do everything we can to save her life.

LAVANDERA: There are eight women on Texas death row. Two of them were convicted of killing their own children. Most legal experts will tell you that it is still rare for a jury to send a woman to death row, but that's not a lot of comfort at this point for the Yates family and Andrea Yates' family as well.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, Houston. (END VIDEOTAPE)

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