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CNN Live At Daybreak

Yates Trial Jury Selection Resumes Today

Aired January 08, 2002 - 06:35   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: Jury selection resumes today in the trial of a woman accused of drowning her five children one by one in the bathtub. CNN's Ed Lavandera has details.

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ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Russell Yates wound his way into the Houston courts building for the beginning of what will be a long and painful trial. Andrea Yates isn't wearing the orange prison uniforms in court anymore and she showed no emotion as she sat face to face with 60 perspective jurors. Twelve of those people will decide whether she should die for drowning her five children.

Before Andrea Yates confessed to the murders, the 37-year old mother spent two years in and out of therapy, talking to doctors and taking high-power depression medications. Then on June 20th of last year, just 29 days after checking out of the last psychiatric hospital, the phone call to 911.

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911: Are you having a disturbance? Are you ill or what?

ANDREA YATES: Yes I'm ill.

911: Do you need an ambulance?

YATES: No, I need a police officer. Yes send an ambulance.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: When an officer arrived, Andrea Yates showed him what had just happened. From the beginning her family and supporters blame postpartum psychosis, but that theory was challenged last summer when prosecutors announced they would seek the death penalty in this case.

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CHARLES ROSENTHAL, HARRIS COUNTRY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: A lot of the people who would prejudge this case and who are sympathetic to the defendant don't know the facts.

(END VIDEO CLIP) LAVANDERA: A judge's gag order prevents family members and doctors who know the most about Yates' battle with depression and psychosis from talking publicly, but a key witness is expected to be Dr. Mohammed Said. He was Andrea Yates' last doctor, who wrote three months before the murders that she -- quote -- "presents a substantial risk of serious harm to self and others".

One family member says Andrea Yates feels anxious and nervous about her upcoming trial. Jury selection is expected to take more than a month. Starting Tuesday perspective jurors will be questioned individually by attorneys.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, Houston.

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