Thaindian News

November 1, 2010 (Pen Men at Work):The horrors of nine month abduction might be finally over for Elizabeth Smart. But she will have to recount the grueling experience again when her case goes to court. On June 5, 2002 the 14-year old Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her home in Salt Lake City to secluded campsite. The little girl was discovered nine months later in Sandy Utah along with her captors. Her captors Brian David Mitchell and his wife Wanda Breeze were quickly apprehended.

The Jury selection will begin from November 1, Monday in the federal Court of Salt Lake City. The self-proclaimed Utah Prophet Brian David Mitchell is going to face the music for kidnapping and sexual assault of the 14-year old girl. Elizabeth’s father Ed Smart said that his daughter is happy that her captors are finally being brought to justice.

Reports suggest that Elizabeth Smart has already decided to fly back from Paris to Utah to attend the hearing. Previously Brian has been removed from court for singing out scriptures loudly and disrupting the court proceedings. Meanwhile Mitchell’s common-law wife Wanda Barzee has pleaded guilty kidnapping last year and the 64-year old is already serving a 15-year sentence.

Mitchell’s trial is expected to last over a month because there are more than 50 key witnesses to this case, which includes Elizabeth, her mother, sisters Lois and Mary Katherine. Last year the court was shocked to hear that during her captivity, Elizabeth was chained to a tree and raped at least 3-4 times on a daily basis by the street preacher.

Elizabeth’s father has reported that his daughter is slowly recovering from the trauma and getting on with her life. Brian’s sentencing might bring some sense of closure to the Smart family.