Mother who killed her five children 'was legally insane'

A US woman who drowned her five children in a bathtub was legally insane at the time of the killings, according to a psychiatrist who testified at her trial yesterday.

The doctor said he reached his conclusion after studying Andrea Yates’ medical and family history and through tests he conducted on her.

Mrs Yates has pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity and if the jury accepts the psychiatrist’s assessment, she could be spared from the death penalty or life imprisonment.

"Mrs Yates was severely ill and in the course of an acute psychotic episode," Dr George Ringholz told her trial yesterday.

"She did not know the actions she took on that day were wrong."