Reply #37: New developement in Andrea Yates's appeal..... [View All]

[Judi Lynn]

Texas court hears arguments in appeal by woman who drowned her children
Tuesday December 14, 2004
By PAM EASTON
Associated Press Writer
HOUSTON (AP) Andrea Yates' murder convictions for drowning her children should be overturned because the state's expert witness gave false testimony about working on an episode of ``Law and Order,'' her attorneys told a state appeals court Tuesday.
(snip)

Her attorneys told a three-judge panel of the state's First Court of Appeals that she deserves a new trial because of 19 errors that were committed in her 2002 trial.

They focused on the testimony of Park Dietz, a prosecution expert witness who said he was a consultant for an episode of ``Law and Order'' that he said dealt with a woman who was found innocent by reason of insanity in the drowning of her children. He testified the episode aired in the weeks leading up to the drownings, and trial testimony indicated Yates had watched the series.

However, after Yates' conviction it was revealed that there was no such episode.

``Without the testimony of Dr. Dietz, the state would not have been able to make their case,'' Yates' attorneys argued. ``This case boiled down to a battle of the experts and the powerful testimony of Dr. Dietz ultimately prevailed.''
(snip/...)

http://cbsnewyork.com/national/AndreaYatesAppeal-aa/resources_news_html