Andrea Yates: Guilty

No, that's not the correct headline. It actually reads, "Jury Finds Yates Not Guilty in Drownings".

The "Not guilty by reason of insanity" argument is absurd in any case. Was she insane? Based on all evidence I've seen, I'd say that yes, she was most definitely insane when she killed her children.

However, our judicial system shouldn't be based on the mental condition of a person at the time they committed their crime. It's based on the crime. Should the crime be punished? I believe it should be. Why? Because a crime was committed. What happens if we decide that she's okay, let her back into society, and she kills someone else because, oops, I guess she's insane again?

I don't mean to sound caloused with this. I understand that insanity is a real condition and that people really do things because they are mentally ill. However, I do not believe that excuses punishment. It may excuse the most severe forms of punishment, but an innocent verdict?

That's absurd.