Yates Lawyers Won't Seek Her Freedom

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Friday January 7, 2005 5:01 PM
Guardian
By MICHAEL GRACZYK

Associated Press Writer

HOUSTON (AP) - The mother whose convictions in her children's drownings were tossed over false witness testimony is unlikely to see freedom soon, her lawyers said. The expert witness, meanwhile, said Friday he made an honest mistake and contended he got the erroneous information during a ``passing conversation'' with prosecutors.

Defense attorney George Parnham said he had no plans to seek Andrea Yates' release from the state prison where she works in the flower garden and has janitorial duties.

``A verdict of this magnitude does not mean that Andrea goes free,'' Parnham said.

A state appeals court on Thursday determined that the false testimony from forensic psychiatrist Park Dietz led to her improper conviction in three of the five children's drownings in 2001.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4718190,00.html