Andrea Yates

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Recommended: Controversies around the death penalty

Andrea Yates Arguement

Last June in 2001, a 37-year-old lady by the name of Andrea Yates, was arrested for killing her five children. Most people like me would agree that she was sane, and the death penalty would have been the right punishment for Mrs. Andrea Yates.

The punishment in the State of Texas for committing two capital crimes is life in jail or the death penalty. Andrea’s lawyer tried to show her innocence by protesting that she was insane at the time of the killings. This plea of insanity could have kept her from life in jail or the death penalty. Sure, she would have served a couple years in jail, but she would have been given the opportunity to come out on parole. Now, if this lady was insane like some believe, then how could she know she committed a crime and not know she was doing wrong when actually drowning the children? Mrs. Yates knew exactly that she hurt the innocent children and was awfully aware of what was going on. Mrs. Yates even called the police and her husband to inform them of what she had done. If the death penalty was on her mind while she was drowning the children, then she might have shown some moral awareness before drowning them instead of after they had died. I believe Andrea to be a sane woman, even though she was depressed or had postpartum depression.

Life indeed is precious and I believe the death penalty is an ideal way to support this fact. These children were Andrea’s own flesh and blood, who she literally gave birth to. Andrea obviously had the crime planned out because she waited until everyone was out of the house to hurt the children. According to the Associated Press, “Her husband was at work, and her mother was out of town for a week.” The one thing tha...

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...ced to life in prison on March 14, 2001, for killing her five children. I agree that Andrea was sane, but the right punishment should have been the death penalty.

Bibliography:

Roche, Timothy. “The Yates Oddysey” New York Times 20 Jan. 2002: Op-ed page. AOL News. America Online. 6 April 2002. Keyword: Andrea Yates.

Associated Press. “Yate’s Husband Misses Jury Duty.” CBS.com 24 Mar. 2002. America Online. 02 Apr. 2002. Path: Russell Yates Interview; The Andrea Yates Case; CBS.com.

Kersy, Allan. “The Full Andrea Yates Story.” COURTTV.com 03 Dec. 2001. America Online. 01 Apr. 2002. Path: Texas v. Andrea Yates; Jurors Speak Out; Family Pleads for Yates Life; Penalty Phase Begins; COURTTV.com.

Koch, Edward. “Professional Writing.” Death and Justice. Ed. Jewell, Leah. New Jersey: Upper Saddle River, 2000. 449-54.

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