Houston mother convicted of killing her five children

A Houston mother, who drowned her five children, has been found guilty of murder. It took the jury just over three hours to reach a verdict.

The jury rejected the defence that Andrea Yates, 37, was insane when she took her children, one by one, and drowned them in the bathtub.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, although she could be sentenced to life in prison.

Yates was found guilty of two charges of capital murder. The charges covered the deaths of three of her children.

According to testimony Yates was overwhelmed at having to care for the five children who ranged in age from six months to seven years. The defence said she was suffering from a severe case of post-partum depression and had lost the ability for rational thought when she killed her children.

Yates' husband, Russell, was in court when the verdict was read. He clasped his head with both hands and said "Oh God," when the jury foreman read out the verdict.

The penalty phase of the trial will begin immediately.