Texas mother competent for trial in drownings

HOUSTON -- A jury of 11 women and one man decided Saturday that a mother who allegedly drowned her five children was competent to stand trial on capital murder charges.

Prosecutors will seek the death penalty against Andrea Yates, Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal has said.

Yates, 37, has pleaded innocent by reason of insanity to two counts of capital murder in the deaths of three of her children. Her family says she suffered from severe depression after the births of her children.

However, the jury decided after deliberating for more than eight hours over two days that Yates sufficiently understands the charges against her and has the ability to consult with her attorneys.

"We're glad right now that at least that issue has been decided," defense attorney George Parnham said. "It's time to get prepared to defend her."

Saturday's verdict means a date will be set for Yates' trial, for which a new jury will be chosen to decide whether she was sane or insane at the time of the drownings. If the jurors had found her incompetent, Yates would have begun treatment at a mental health facility with updates to the court every 90 days.

Parnham had argued that Yates needed more treatment.

"It would be impossible to relate to you our feelings," he said. "She's here, she'll be here. She's being cared for by the psychiatrists who not only take care of her mentally, but take care of every need she has."

Police said Yates called officers to her home on June 20 and admitted that she drowned the children one by one.

Yates' husband, Russell Yates, has said she suffered from postpartum depression.