Texas won't seek death penalty if Houston mom accepts responsibility for drownings

HOUSTON - The state is willing to forgo the death penalty for Andrea Yates if she accepts responsibility for drowning her five children in the bathtub, a prosecutor said Tuesday as jury selection got under way.<br> <br> Yates, 37, confessed to police that on June 20 she drowned her children, ranging in age from 6 months to 7 years, but she has pleaded innocent by reason of insanity. Her attorneys say she suffers from a severe form of postpartum depression.<br> <br> Jury selection is expected to take four to five weeks. Testimony is not expected to begin until mid-February.<br> <br> The district attorney&#39;s office is seeking the death penalty. But in court on Tuesday, prosecutor Joe Owmby disclosed that the district attorney&#39;s office was willing to offer a life sentence &#34;if Yates was willing to accept responsibility for her criminal acts.&#34;<br> <br> Neither side commented on Owmby&#39;s offer; state District Judge Belinda Hill has imposed a gag order.<br> <br>

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