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American Morning

Children Killed

Aired May 13, 2003 - 09:09   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: George Parnham was Andrea Yates' attorney. He's my guest this morning from Houston.
George, good morning. Thanks for being with us.

When you heard about this story, you had to see a lot similarities between this client and Andrea Yates.

GEORGE PARNHAM, ATTORNEY: It was chillingly familiar. And obviously the emotion and the horrific set of circumstances are overwhelming and very sad.

KAGAN: From what you're seeing, does it appear to you, and I know you're not a mental health expert in this field, but does it appear to you that Deanna Laney is insane?

PARNHAM: From what I've read, from what I've heard, I can't help but believe that she was, in fact, suffering from some type of a mental illness or breakdown, sufficient to allow her perception of her own reality to be dramatically altered and to do what she thought was in the best interest of her children, simply put.

KAGAN: Let's go ahead and listen to what the sheriff had to say about her behavior.

Do we have the sound?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF J.B. SMITH, SMITH COUNTY, TEXAS: Well, the only thing we find in common between the two is the fact that God told them both to do it. The Yates case was entirely different, in that there was a lot of mental illness. It was a matter of fact. Everyone knew she was mentally ill. Not this lady. She has no history whatsoever, that we know of at this time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: The sheriff spells it out pretty well, George, Andrea Yates, your client, a long history documented mental illness. In this case there isn't, and in the case of Andrea Yates, you could not sell that to a jury to get her off the hook on this.

PARNHAM: Well, people have to put the word history in perspective. History begins with an event. And it well may be that this woman was so absolutely psychotic that she was able to mask her psychosis and continue with everyday life, much like Andrea. That's the horrific nature of this type of illness. A woman is nurturing her children, loving her children, protecting her children from dangers, yet her perception of danger is upside down. It takes the definition of motherhood and twists it around, whereby she could actually be perceiving that her children were forever in danger of forever dying or burning in Hell, and to protect her children with her own motherly instincts, she did what she did.

KAGAN: My point is, in your case you had years and years of doctor records, medical records to point out that Andrea Yates had a long history. It did not help in your case. What would be your advice? I understand you have been in touch with Laney's attorneys. What would be your advice to them at this point in protecting their client?

PARNHAM: I did receive a call. I informed her fine lawyer that he's got a very tough road. It's going to be obviously very emotional for him and his office staff. Basically, start digging. Start talking to previous obstetricians that delivered previous children. Talk to the pediatricians, talk to neighbors. There may be some indication of a depressive state after the birth of those children, and get the very best experts you possibly could get to be able to emphasize the reality of mental illness so the public, and the jury in particular can understand and appreciate what goes through the mind of a person acting under psychosis.

KAGAN: And just real quickly before we let you go, the latest on your client, Andrea Yates?

PARNHAM: I saw her last weekend. I see her frequently. We're in the process of the appeal. She is sad. She's morose. She's still medicated. And she's having difficulties, but she's coping as best as she possibly can.

KAGAN: George Parnham, joining us from Houston. Mr. Parnham, thank you.

PARNHAM: Thank you so much.

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






Aired May 13, 2003 - 09:09   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: George Parnham was Andrea Yates' attorney. He's my guest this morning from Houston.
George, good morning. Thanks for being with us.

When you heard about this story, you had to see a lot similarities between this client and Andrea Yates.

GEORGE PARNHAM, ATTORNEY: It was chillingly familiar. And obviously the emotion and the horrific set of circumstances are overwhelming and very sad.

KAGAN: From what you're seeing, does it appear to you, and I know you're not a mental health expert in this field, but does it appear to you that Deanna Laney is insane?

PARNHAM: From what I've read, from what I've heard, I can't help but believe that she was, in fact, suffering from some type of a mental illness or breakdown, sufficient to allow her perception of her own reality to be dramatically altered and to do what she thought was in the best interest of her children, simply put.

KAGAN: Let's go ahead and listen to what the sheriff had to say about her behavior.

Do we have the sound?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF J.B. SMITH, SMITH COUNTY, TEXAS: Well, the only thing we find in common between the two is the fact that God told them both to do it. The Yates case was entirely different, in that there was a lot of mental illness. It was a matter of fact. Everyone knew she was mentally ill. Not this lady. She has no history whatsoever, that we know of at this time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: The sheriff spells it out pretty well, George, Andrea Yates, your client, a long history documented mental illness. In this case there isn't, and in the case of Andrea Yates, you could not sell that to a jury to get her off the hook on this.

PARNHAM: Well, people have to put the word history in perspective. History begins with an event. And it well may be that this woman was so absolutely psychotic that she was able to mask her psychosis and continue with everyday life, much like Andrea. That's the horrific nature of this type of illness. A woman is nurturing her children, loving her children, protecting her children from dangers, yet her perception of danger is upside down. It takes the definition of motherhood and twists it around, whereby she could actually be perceiving that her children were forever in danger of forever dying or burning in Hell, and to protect her children with her own motherly instincts, she did what she did.

KAGAN: My point is, in your case you had years and years of doctor records, medical records to point out that Andrea Yates had a long history. It did not help in your case. What would be your advice? I understand you have been in touch with Laney's attorneys. What would be your advice to them at this point in protecting their client?

PARNHAM: I did receive a call. I informed her fine lawyer that he's got a very tough road. It's going to be obviously very emotional for him and his office staff. Basically, start digging. Start talking to previous obstetricians that delivered previous children. Talk to the pediatricians, talk to neighbors. There may be some indication of a depressive state after the birth of those children, and get the very best experts you possibly could get to be able to emphasize the reality of mental illness so the public, and the jury in particular can understand and appreciate what goes through the mind of a person acting under psychosis.

KAGAN: And just real quickly before we let you go, the latest on your client, Andrea Yates?

PARNHAM: I saw her last weekend. I see her frequently. We're in the process of the appeal. She is sad. She's morose. She's still medicated. And she's having difficulties, but she's coping as best as she possibly can.

KAGAN: George Parnham, joining us from Houston. Mr. Parnham, thank you.

PARNHAM: Thank you so much.

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