6.29.2006

Now I'm Awake

The baby drowing Andrea Yates is on trial again (her first conviction was reversed after a government witness made up some crazy story about how Yates was pretty much following a plot she learned on Law and Order.). I can think of three women who have recently been successful using the insanity defense. Being too lazy at this moment to research their names, there was (1) the kill my kids in the rock garden lady in East Texas, (2) the cut off my baby's arms lady in Collin County, and (3) I'm pretty sure there was a young hispanic lady, also in Collin County, that killed her three year with a knife. Yates (before the conviction was reveresed), was the only high profile defendant I can think of to have that defense rejected. Her lawyer was George Parnham the first time. She's using him again. Let me begin a George Parnham rant . . . I think he is one odd (and full of himself) guy. Check out his web site - it has this touchy feely music in the background and when you first enter, up pops a quote from Abraham Lincoln, then one from the Magna Carta, and then one from . . . omg . . . George Parnham! Lincoln, the Magna Carta and Parnham? And then a second quote pops up from Parnham: "If we do our jobs correctly, an innocent person may be spared punishment he doesn't deserve." What the hell? You might be able to get an innocent person off? That's your selling point? And then click on his list of "clients". His first one is Andrea Yates (that's not going too well) and then the second one is Clara Harris! You might remember that Harris ran over her sorry husband with a vehicle in a hotel parking lot after she caught him having an affair. She got 20 years in prison! (Ok, I'm done. I think something took over my body for a second.)