Testimony concludes in Yates murder trial

? Testimony in the Andrea Yates murder case ended Thursday after a nearly monthlong retrial that included some new witnesses but no appearance by Rusty Yates, her ex-husband and father of the five children she is accused of drowning.

State District Judge Belinda Hill set closing arguments for Monday. The jury will be sequestered during deliberations.

Among the new defense witnesses was a psychiatric nurse in the mental hospital where Yates, 42, stayed twice in the two months before the drownings.

Sherry Steinocher testified that when Yates’ husband brought their children to visit and insisted that she hold the baby, nurses had to position Yates’ hands and place Mary in her arms. Yates was unresponsive and almost dropped her.

If convicted, Andrea Yates will be sentenced to life in prison. If found not guilty by reason of insanity, Yates will be committed to a state mental hospital.