Thaindian News

Mar 2 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Eight years ago, Elizabeth Smart was allegedly snatched from the safety of her own bedroom at knifepoint, by Brian David Mitchell. She was then taken to his mountain hideout where she was forced to be a part of a “marriage ceremony” which supposedly made her one of Mitchell’s many wives. Between 2002, and 2003, this child was raped daily, and was kept chained in his residence for nine months.

During this nine months, her parents made many pleas to television cameras for the safe return of their daughter. All the while this girl was in the home of Mitchell, along with his wife Wanda Barzee. Barzee has agreed to testify against Mitchell in a plea bargain deal, which was connected to the July 24, 2002 incident where Mitchell tried to kidnap Smart’s cousin, just 7 weeks after taking her. Elizabeth Smart was finally rescued when Mitchell and Barzee were arrested in March of 03 while walking with her in Salt Lake City.

It looked to everyone as if Mitchell might get away with a “guilty by reason of insanity” plea, when the state had declared him incompetent, and refused to force him to take medications. Then he was finally brought to the incompetency hearing under U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball, who ruled him to be competent to stand trial. This ruling is largely due to the testimony of Smart, in which she described her 9 month ordeal in detail for the court. Her bravery is to be commended. “The ruling sends a message to victims that they can be an important part of a case. This case began and ended with important testimony from Elizabeth Smart. I am proud that she got to be a part of this,” former U.S.attorney for Utah said.

During the 10 day competency hearing, Mitchell had to be repeatedly removed from the courtroom because he would break out in song. Judeg Kimball didn’t buy it, thankfully and felt that Mitchell’s singing “is a contrivance to derail the proceedings and create the false impression that he is unable to control his behavior.” Judge Kimball also said that Mitchell “does not presently suffer from a mental disease or defect that impedes his rational and factual understanding of the proceedings against him.”