I'm inclined to agree with you but neither of us will find much agreement here. If killing ones children isn't a very definition of insanity, I don't know what is.
This case is stomach-churning, no doubt. And why on the Earth the husband impregnated her for a 5th time is baffling. I guess denial ain't just a river.
A decent prosecutor would remind you that the words 'premeditated' and 'aforethought' belong in the mix before one simply declares her insane....from the little I know of the case, these are salient points.
"If killing ones children isn't a very definition of insanity, I don't know what is."
What a ridiculous statement. Many angry, frustrated parents have shaken their children to death. That's insanity? No, it's lack of patience.
She's crazy as an crap house rat. Unfortunately, our legal system doesn't deal with crazy folks very well nor does society, since she was still allowed to run around nutty until she did something heinous.
If a man had done what Adrea Yates did ,you would want him to die painfully.
So do I. Unfortunately many FReepers don't show much compassion for anyone.
I have known someone who was literally a walking nervous breakdown for months before anyone else realized the problem was so serious. Once the depression, or extreme anxiety sets in it can be too late for the ill person to ask for help. Even if they do ask for help they make not be able to express themselves well enough for well-meaning family and friends to "get a clue". In a situation like this things can escalate out of control very quickly. What seems like a simple decision to an unknowing participant can in reality be a life or death decision.
That being said, I do think Andrea Yates' husband is more at fault than she was. He had seen her condition and been told by her doctors that she should not have more children. He kept her barefoot and pregnant year and year knowing that she became progressively more depressed at each pregnancy. At one point they even lived in an old school bus and home schooled all her children. That would drive many people over the edge even without the hormonal changes caused by pregnancy.
The mentally ill live in a special hell that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.