Yates Jury to See Grisly Scene Photos

Jurors in the Andrea Yates child-killing case will be allowed to see more than two dozen photos taken at the crime scene, a judge ruled Wednesday.

State District Judge Belinda Hill admitted 29 of the photos of the dead children and contents of the Yates home after the state agreed to withdraw 10 others. Hill said the photos’ relevance outweighed any prejudice they might cause the jury.

The court recessed early because of an emergency unrelated to the trial. A juror was returned to the jury room, where he was joined by Hill.

“It causes us not to be able to proceed today. It has nothing to do with the case,” Hill said when she reemerged. She did not elaborate.

Yates, 37, could face the death penalty. She has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

At issue during the trial is whether Yates suffered from a mental illness and knew the difference between right and wrong at the time of the drownings.

Testimony was scheduled to resume today.

One of the photos shows 7-year-old Noah Yates floating face down in the bathtub with his arms outstretched, submerged beneath the water. Others detailed bruising on the children and how the bodies of Noah’s four younger siblings--John, 5; Paul, 3; Luke, 2; and Mary, 6 months--were laid out on a bed in the back bedroom.

Prosecutors also plan to show photos taken during the children’s autopsies. Prosecutor Kaylynn Williford said it is never easy to present evidence such as pictures of the dead children.

Defense attorney George Parnham appeared bothered by some of the photos that flashed onto a computerized monitor as attorneys discussed them.

Yates was removed from the courtroom before the pictures were shown. It isn’t clear whether she will be in the courtroom when the photos are viewed by jurors.

Also admitted was a videotape made by Houston police Officer Glenn West of the Yates home, a one-story Spanish style brick house, after he arrived June 20.