SAN FRANCISCO -- Supporters of the 23-year-old mother accused of throwing her three sons into the San Francisco Bay held hands and prayed for the woman before her latest court appearance on murder charges Friday.

Inside San Francisco Superior Court, Lashuan Harris appeared uncuffed and grasped the podium with both hands before a judge, who set her next hearing for Nov. 18.

Harris is charged with three murder counts with special circumstances, which could make her eligible for the death penalty, if convicted. District Attorney Kamala Harris said she hasn't yet decided whether to seek capital punishment in the case.

Lashuan Harris' public defender said after Friday's hearing that her client suffers from schizophrenia that was deepened by domestic violence abuse. Teresa Caffese said Harris, who is being held in a psychiatric ward at San Francisco General Hospital, needs prolonged psychiatric help and should not be subject to the death penalty.

"When someone has cancer, you don't just give them one shot of chemotherapy and they get better," she said.

The body of Harris' 2-year-old son, Taronta Greeley Jr., was recovered the night of the alleged murders about two miles from the downtown pier where the woman was seen dropping the boys into the water on Oct. 19. The other two children -- Treyshun Harris, 6, and Joshoa Greeley, 16 months -- are still missing and are presumed dead.

Outside the courtroom, emotions ran high as more than a dozen people gathered in the young mother's support.

"The mental health system failed her. They did not assess her situation correctly. It was totally incompetent for the first part," said Harris supporter Pam Gaddies.